4. SUMMARY, CONCLUSIONS AND BUDGET ESTIMATES

The Mission was comprised of six members with diversified expertise all having a practical and knowlegeable approach to the area, the project design, and the constraints that soon became apparent. The time available to some members was limited, and considerably more time could have been spent in the field. As distances between ports were great, using up valuable time was of necessity spent traveling and could not be avoided due to scheduling most departures and arrivals during daylight hours. However, complete cooperation from the captain of the M.V. Karya Mina II gave us maximum usage of the limited time available.

Conclutions or alternative suggestions have been based upon personnel interviews with people in the communities, visits to areas suggested or deemed suitable for culture or collection, and a scrutiny of published data and reports.

A quite extensive report entitled “Survey Report on the Feasibility for Establishing Fishing Bases at Natuna, Anambas, and Tambelan Islands” Directorate General of Fisheries, June/July 1975 (referred elsewhere as “the 1975 survey”), gives reasonably up-to-date background and general information for the area, hence no attempt is made to include the same information here unless the Mission's findings differentiated from information contained in the report. It is therefore suggested that the above-named report be read should background information be desired.

Both the 1975 survey and the first-hand information gleaned by the Mission members point out substantially overwhelming obstacles to develop a fishery in this area beyond the needs of local consumption. Being dispersed and sparsely populated islands (land area is 2,519 km², 1976 population 62,012 average population density of 24.6 per km² except Midai, 212 persons per km²), the marine resource potential from an estimated area of over 161,000 km² is far in excess of local consumption requirements. Table I gives population, land and sea area statistics for the sub-districts of Riau Archipelago district.

The 1975 survey reported that fish landings for the Pulau Tujuh district was 3,355 tons in 1974 (see table 2), or per capita consumption of 54 kg. This is overstated as exports and other than human consumption volume has not been deducted, but when compared to the national per capita consumption figures of 10² kg and a national requirement level of 32 kg of fish per capita per year¹, the population of Pulau Tujuh most likely do not have a protein deficiency. However, statistics quoted for this area are suspect of gross inaccuracies, and Table 2 also shows annual fish production statistics (in brackets) obtained from the District Fisheries Officer, Tanjung Pinang, which seem grossly understated, giving per capita consumption as low as 11.9 kg for Bunguran Timor, to 34.9 kg for Bunguran Barat. By comparison, Singapore is reported to have an annual per capita consumption of 38.1 kg of fish per annum.

Without a detailed study of actual fish consumption by family units, it can only be assumed that there is an adequacy of fish protein in the Pulau Tujuh area during seasons of favourable weather (March through October) and shortages during the north monsoon season, November through February. This was substantiated by the Mission members by asking persons interviewed how often they are fish or seafoods. The answers ranged from “three times a day - I can always catch enough for a meal” to “maybe twice a week - I really don't like fish.” The adequacy of supply is further substantiated by fishermen limiting their fishing effort to the extent of market demand only, consequently most fishermen are part-time or uderemployed due to a limited demand which is less than their full time fishing capability. In areas of concentrated clove production, fish supply can become scarce during the clove harvesting season as most of the part-time fishing effort is switched to the clove harvest.

¹ Source - Proposal for Accelerated Development, SCS/DEV/73/1.

Two possible ways that could help to eliminate these seasonal shortages, and increase productivity and earnings of the present fisherman, are:

a. Provide transport and handling facilities for shipping fresh fish between the islands. The ice plant - market - processing facility at Antan Bay, Tarempa could be the focal point for such an activity.

b. Introduce post-harvest technology for salting, drying or other means of preservation.

Assuming that the development of the Pulau Tujuh fishery is not necessary to fill a local need or requirement for additional protein supply, development then becomes not only fishing but the many faceted aspects of export and processing. This requires most of the infrastructures such as better harbour facilities, water, electricity, communications, transport, process, handling, and storage facilities, credit and banking, custom and export facilities, all of which are lacking or inadequate at the present time. Prior to deciding on the extent or direction that the resource survey should take, a pre-determined factor should be the costing of the infrastructures needed, and the economic benefits to be derived from such a developing plan.

Table #7 gives a very preliminary idea of the prices for selected species or groups presently received by fishermen in the local market, and also gives a very preliminary idea of Hong Kong and Singapore market prices. A more precise study of market prices could show these substantially better export prices (possibly 50% to maybe 500% more for some species in short supply) which could justify development and infrastructure costs plus a greater return to the fishermen.

Being such a vast area, it is readily evident that the full marine resource potential cannot come close to full exploitation by small-scale fishing efforts only, due to limitation of distance and types of gear that small boats can manage. The development plan should consider means whereby small-scale fishermen can eventually, either individually or by groups, branch into offshore fishing and displace the foreign fleet that apparently has had a viable fishery in the Pulau Tujuh area for many years.

The mission therefore recommends a resource survey that initially will identify areas of immediate or short-term development by small-scale capture and culture techniques, with longer term objectives that local small-scale fishermen will ultimately progress and expand their area of operations and fishing techniques to prosecute fishing throughout all the waters of the Pulau Tujuh area.

The survey recommended is in three fields: marine finfish, mariculture including seaweeds, cage culture and brackish water and shellfish culture; and a marine turtle survey.

Summary of Budget Estimates

* See Appendix Section, Tables II-16 for details
** Experts already available in country.

* See Appendix section, tables 11–16 for details
** Manpower already allocated in Marine Fisheries Institute budget

*** Does not include Marine Finfish Survey costs for supplying vessel.

4.1 Marine finfish

4.1.1 Rationale

There is no intensive fishing effort by the small-scale fishermen at any of the ports visited, and the fishing activities can best be described as both highly seasonal, very intermittent and complementary to other agricultural activities, and therefore of very low productivity. For obvious reasons there is no offshore fishery by Indonesian vessels (local or otherwise). Foreign vessels are known to have fished this general area for many years, but the extent of their catch is not known. However, since 1975, a total of 17 foreign vessels have been apprehended and confiscated for illegal fishing within the territorial waters of Indonesia, and the attached Fig 1 gives an indication of the wide area covered by foreign vessels in the area to be surveyed. Thus it appears that a viable commercial fishery is already being prosecuted here by longline, trawl and illegal dynamite fishing.

The logistics in combining a demersal and pelagic species survey (and fishing gear demonstration at the same time) becomes complicated not only by the wide range of gear and equipment required, but also by the vast size of the area, lack of facilities and harbours for servicing a large-size survey vessel. Small-scale fishing units are better suited in terms of limited servicing and harbor facility requirements, but are limited to the scope of prosecution, as to distance from port and gear capability. For example, a small-scale boat of 15–25 Hp is not capable of otter trawl fishing in depths of 50–100 meters or rough bottom.

The mission does differ from the approach taken in the 1975 survey that with a pelagic sustainable yield of 27,700 tons per annum, and only 7.73% utilization, it is worthy of considerable expansion. This could be misleading, as some of the smaller pelagics i.e. anchovies (stolephorus spp) are probably more fully exploited now as they tend to concentrate close to shore and are easily caught by present fishing methods. Further, the larger pelagics reported caught are generally classed as tunas. Within this group, the little or frigate tuna (Euthynnus affinis and Auxis spp) represent from 60 to 80% of the larger pelagics, with the light meat tonggol (Thynnus tonggol) and some skipjack (katsuwonus pelamis) and larger mackerels making up the balance. The little or frigate tunas are not a popular species of fresh fish in most other countries (and particularly Singapore), nor is it considered desirable for canning or other types of processing. For these reasons, and the fact that quite wide coverage is already being given the catching of tunas by trolling, little emphasis would be put on the assessment of offshore pelagic species, apart from some gillnetting. The survey component for smaller pelagics would contain gillnetting, and probably fixed gear such as the floating lift net trap recently placed at Siantan for catching sardines by light attraction.

The main thrust of the resource survey would be for the demersal species habiting both soft and coral bottom. Suggested types of gear are bottom gillnets, traps and longlines. Otter trawling should also be considered, but would entail the use of a vessel with at least 250 Hp in order to adequately fish the depths and rough bottom conditions of the Pulau Tujuh area. Since this type of fishing is beyond the scope of small-scale fishery development, an area-wide survey is not included as part of the SCSP resource assessment. It could be considered as a separate IPF project, using a government supplied vessel, or alternatively, as part of a cooperative development plan, using a vessel supplied by another country wishing to develop a joint venture with Indonesia.

The first draft summary of the Mission's findings were submitted to the Director-General of Fisheries, and discussed with selected staff members. This preliminary report, Appendix Note #4, Interim Summary Report, suggested alternative survey methods and scope. From this, a survey proposal has been developed, in collaboration with the Programme Leader and Deputy Programme Leader of SCSP, for approval by the Directorate-General of Fisheries.

It is recommended that the survey use a vessel of a suitable size that can be self-reliant, staying at sea up to 10 days' duration, using the newly completed facility at Antan Bay, Tarempa for fueling, servicing, disposition of catch, communication link, etc. Other areas or locations would be visited to obtain local knowledge, pick up local crew, victualing, and sheltering from inclement weather, but Antan Bay, Tarempa is considered to be the only location that is suitably equipped to provide complete between-trips servicing. A larger vessel, besides having mobility to move freely between sub-districts, cannot only cover all the proposed areas of a scope greater than that presently covered by powered small-scale fishing craft, but can also provide a “mothership” service to several small-powered or non-powered fishing craft at different locations. The survey will include daily hire of local fishing craft, provide them with suitable fishing gear, assist them to reach areas to be surveyed, dispose of the catch, and provide accommodation if necessary.

It is recommended that the confiscated longline vessel “Function I” which is presently located at Tarempa, be overhauled and outfitted for this survey. A general arrangement plan of this type of vessel is shown in the Appendix Section, Figure 2. Alternately, if it is not available, make available for the term of the survey, one of the 60 GT wooden purse seine boats presently under construction for the C. V. Bina Kapal Ikan, Tegal Fisheries Development Project. A general arrangement drawing for this vessel is shown in the Appendix, Figure 3.

4.1.2 Survey Recommendations

Operating base - Antan Bay, Tarempa is the only location at present with some of the necessary infrastructures, namely ice, fuel and chilled/cold storage facilities. It is also the closest major town to Tanjung Pinang and Singapore, has reasonably frequent scheduled and non-scheduled sea transport services, so should serve as the operating base for the marine survey.

Survey areas - Areas within reach of motorized small-scale fishing vessels (present or proposed types) should receive priority. These are shown in Figure 1, as seven areas of 30-mile radius from the following centers:

1. Lutung, Jemaja

2. Siantan, Anambas

3. Sedanau, Bunguran Barat

4. Ranai, Bunguran Timor

5. Serasan

6. Midai

7. Tambelan

In addition, background information on the extent of fishing activities by both Singapore and Thailand vessels should be obtained and analyzed. Should this information indicate specific areas of promise that are beyond the selected zones, then these should be surveyed if time permits.

Duration - Vessel overhaul and outfitting - 4 months commencing November 1976.

Survey - 12 months commencing March 1978.

Institutional framework - implementation will be undertaken jointly by the Directorate General of Fisheries and the South China Sea Fisheries Development and Coordinating Programme. Besides providing counterpart personnel and expenditures as outlined in the budget, the Directorate General of Fisheries must play a key role as coordinator and expeditor to assure that the survey is not overcome by excessive lost time and effort due to the remote location and lack of support facilities or alternatives.

Objectives - the main objective shall be to determine the extent of stocks accessible to small-scale motorized fishing craft. It shall determine species composition and seasonality and catch per unit of effort as related to specific types of gear. The fishing gear to be used will be adaptable for use by small-scale fishing craft, and should, by demonstration and results, become one of the criteria upon which to base a fishery development plan for the Pulau Tujuh region.

Project description - The survey vessel will conduct trips of about 10 days' duration each, returning to Antan Bay, Tarempa, to discharge the catch and prepare for the succeeding trip. It will be appropriately equipped to carry and fish several types of gear during any trip, including but not limited to floating and sunken gillnets, floating, bottom and variable depth longlines, traps and handlines. It will also carry spare gear to be used by local small-scale fishing craft in the area being surveyed, such small craft to be hired on a daily basis. In addition, fixed types of gear such as floating lift net traps will be provided and set up in locations to be selected and local people hired to operate same.

Sea time of the survey vessel should account for at least two thirds of the total time projected for the vessel and crew after it becomes operational.

Catch will be analyzed for species mix, seasonality, gear effectiveness and biological aspects as considered necessary for stock assessment purposes. Preliminary feasibility data pertaining to handling, transport, processing and marketing as related to inter-island and export movement of product be considered in the later stages of the survey should the survey results look positive.

SCSP inputs - The budget estimates are shown in the Appendixes, Table 11. The SCSP inputs consist of 46 man-months and supplies and equipment totalling $83,750.

Counterpart inputs - Counterpart contributions total 40 man-months plus the supply of a vessel for 12 months. The cost of the latter is not known, depending on which vessel is available. If a confiscated vessel is used, then the cost to make operational could be from Rp 6 to 8,000,000 but a thorough survey should be done first to determine the present condition of the hull and equipment in order to estimate the expenditure required.

In addition, part-time or short-term personnel should be provided to purchase and expedite equipment, supplies and repairs, functions which can probably be fitted into the work plans of present fishery or sub-district administrative staffs. Also, depending on the extent of catches, and disposition of same test processing and marketing for export should be undertaken by counterpart staff.

Other items of a support nature include:

Facilities at Antan Bay, Tarempa

1. Office space of approximately 10 to 15 m².

2. Gear and supplies storage space of approximately 15 m².

3. Minimum of 5,000 liters of diesel fuel on inventory for the survey vessel.

4. Suitable space of about 20 × 10 meters with suitably finished floor for laying out, making and repairing fishing gear.

5. Adequate supply of ice and suitable fish handling and storage facilities to permit handling of chilled or frozen fish, for a volume of up to 10 m. tons of fish per trip.

4.2 Mariculture

4.2.1 Rationale

The prospects of aquaculture for some economic marine resources look bright in the Pulau Tujuh area. Extensive habitats which appear suitable for natural growth and culture of commercial varieties of seaweeds exist around the islands. Finfish species that can be raised in cages and marketed at good price in nearby Singapore are also found in the islands. There are mangrove areas for possible brackishwater pond culture, but the promotion of this type of aquaculture will be limited by the scattered nature of these sites and the apparent unsuitable soil and tidal conditions. The culture of molluscs (oysters, clams and cockles) and other shellfish appears to also have possibilities at selected sites in the islands but this will require more detailed survey.

4.2.2 Recommendations

Seaweeds.

Very little is known about the seaweed species in the Pulau Tujuh group of islands. During the visit of this Mission, economic species of Eucheuma, Gelidium, Gracilaria, Hypnea, Chondrus and Caulerpa were found to be present. This identification is preliminary as there has been no systematic survey of the kinds of economic species available in the area. However, the extent of favourable seaweed grounds around these islands has been found to be very extensive. The first step for development of these resources is therefore the conduct of a resource survey to determine the species present, distribution, magnitude and seasonal occurence, if any. In cooperation with the appropriate local agency, technical assistance will be rendered by this Programme in the conduct of this survey.

During the Mission, it was noted that the Branch Office of the Marine Fisheries Research Institute at Tanjung Pinang has a continuing programme on the culture of Eucheuma seaweed at Pulau Telang in the Bintan group of islands. The South China Sea Programme would be able to support the demonstration unit of the Institute in training their field officers as well as prospective seaweed farmers in the area since the ongoing fisheries work in Pulau Tujuh is administered and monitored through the District Fisheries Service Office at Tanjung Pinang. This will enable the fisheries field workers to undertake more effective extension work on seaweeds in the area. At a later stage, demonstration units may also be established in the Pulau Tujuh area in suitable sites to be selected. (For more details see Table 12 and Note 2).

Cage culture of finfish.

The Marine Fisheries Research Institute Branch at Tanjung Pinang has a modest budget to start a fish cage culture demonstration unit in the Bintan area. This is another aquaculture activity that may prove suitable for practice in the Pulau Tujuh area at a later date. The species for this work (notably groupers, seabass, snappers) are available in the area and trash fish for feed can be obtained (Table 3). Villages built on stilts which are very characteristic in the Pulau Tujuh “kampongs” are very favourable for the development of this type of culture.

The Programme could support the activities of the Marine Fisheries Research Institute in the Bintan area so that it could be used to train the field fisheries officers of Pulau Tujuh as well as villagers who would be interested in getting involved in this type of aquaculture (for more details see Note 2 and Table 14).

Mangrove and brackishwater pond culture.

The amount of mangrove areas in the Pulau Tujuh islands appear very scattered and too limited for any worthwhile development of brackishwater pond culture. The Mission also found that the soil and tidal conditions in the area are not very favourable for this development. While there appears to be some interest in this work, such as the attempt to develop a “tambak” (brackishwater pond) in Sedanau, East Bunguran subdistrict, it is felt that the mangrove in the Pulau Tujuh area can serve a more useful purpose if left unexploited. They can serve as habitats, shelters, and nurseries for the many useful marine and brackishwater resources that require this habitat to complete their life cycles. They also prevent coastal sedimentation and silting and serve as wind and wave brakes during the monsoons.

The Mission noted, however, the activities of the District Fisheries Service at Tanjung Pinang in their efforts to develop a “tambak” demonstration unit in the Bintan area. The Bintan group of islands of the Riau Archipelago District are reported to have some 14 400 ha of mangrove (Table 8) and it is expected that at least 10 percent or about 1 000 ha may be suitable for future development into brackishwater fishponds. It will therefore be advantageous to expand and improve this activity of the district office by providing adequate support from the Directorate General of Fisheries as required (Table 15). The FAO/UNDP Brackishwater Fish and Shrimp Applied Research and Training Project at Jepara, Central Java, can train staff for this work and render assistance as required. The South China Sea Programme can also render the necessary technical assistance through its available staff.

Other aquaculture activities in Pulau Tujuh should include the investigation of the possibilities of culturing economic shellfish in some of the extensive tidal mudflats and reefs found around some of the islands. A resource survey should be conducted to determine the feasibility of this activity (for more details see Note 2 and Table 16).

It was also reported to the Mission that Macrobrachium species occur in the creeks and streams in Greater Natuna and in Subi and Serasan islands but it is not being utilized at present. The species present should be verified and the quantity available determined since this is a valuable export crop in other areas of the country.

4.3 Marine turtles

4.3.1 Rationale

Marine turtles are abundant in the area according to all sources interviewed during the Mission. Substantial fisheries exist for harvesting turtle eggs and the nesting beaches for domestic and export consumption to Singapore and Kuching, Malaysia in each of the five subdistricts visited and are believed to be very important in Tarempa as well. Annual harvest of turtle eggs are roughly estimated to be around 3 to 5 million. Government concessions are awarded annually to the highest bidder to collect an unlimited amount of turtle eggs in each of the subdistricts. Government revenue from these concessions is substantial, reported to be Rp 10 492 000 (US$25 600) in Serasan alone for 1976. This further indicates that the turtle resource is substantial, and the level of exploitation on this resource is significant. However, the reports of the size of the turtle population and nesting activity are very conflicting and no reliable estimate of the resource can be ascertained. Neither is there any factual estimation of population trends, although the general consensus obtained through interviews is that the number of nesting turtles in the Pulau Tujuh area has been decreasing during recent years.

No scientific management programme has been instituted and from our observations of the turtle islands man-induced disturbance seems to be on the increase. It is encouraging to note that the Mission received a report from one of the subdistrict officers that there is in effect a programme written into the concession awarded to the turtle collector that states that one turtle must be left undisturbed to hatch for every Rp 150 000 of concession fee collected. Although this is not based on any scientific finding, it is an attempt to manage and conserve the resource. Whether this programme is adequate and enforceable needs investigation. A future turtle management scheme should be based on scientific findings which may only be determined upon the completion of a detailed resources survey.

4.3.2 Survey recommendations

There is therefore a need to undertake a marine turtle survey and management programme to obtain a reliable estimate of the population size and status of this important resource in the Pulau Tujuh Island Group. Turtles can be considered as an important resource in the economy of the islands, being an important local food item and an export product from the area that is highly sought and regarded in adjacent countries. Finally the indications that this resource is declining and is being adversely affected by development in the area points out the necessity of undertaking this survey as soon as possible.

The survey will also benefit the South China Sea countries as a whole since marine turtles are a regional resource that migrate long distances for feeding and breeding. Information on the life history, ecology, unit stocks, and population trends of this resource is urgently needed in the region and the proposed survey will be a valuable input in helping to prepare a management programme for marine turtles within the region.

The survey plan will consist of indepth studies of the main nesting islands of Pulau Tujuh and other islands which have historically been important as nesting areas with the view of the possibility of reintroduction of nesting populations as well as exploring other islands which may show promise of having suitable habitat as future turtle rookeries.

Direct observation will be aimed at documenting the characteristics of preferred beaches, their size and location. Locating mating aggregations, counts of nesting females, the frequency of successive laying (to be determined by tagging experiments), density of laying on the beaches, successful hatching rates. In addition the level of natural and maninduced disturbance and predation on the adults and developing eggs will also be determined.

Detailed information on the extent of the nesting seasons, species present, morphometries of the population to determine if they are distinct from the turtles in other areas of the region, and tagging experiments to determine the migratory activity of the species present will also be undertaken. Location of the main feeding areas will also be attempted.

A literature review of existing information including past records of concessions, sales in Singapore and Kutching, a search for scientific papers that have applicability, will also be undertaken.

The survey team will be as self-contained as possible in order to make indepth observations of turtle behaviour over 12 months commencing January 1978. Most of the transport will be arranged locally through the subdistrict officials and time schedules between island groups will be organized to coincide with local government transport. It is recommended that counterpart staff visit other areas in the South China Sea Region to obtain information on the results of neighbouring countries research and management programmes of this important marine resources (for more details see Note 3).

The required budget for the conduct of a marine turtle survey in Pulau Tujuh is given (Table 13).