The fisheries sector, especially fish and shrimp, has become an important part of people's lives in Suriname, especially in the Commewijne and Nickerie Districts. People in the Commewijne and Nickerie Districts have long depended on the fishing sector for their livelihoods. However, in recent years, they have faced a harsh reality and found that this sector is faced with serious challenges as fish and shrimp catches have experienced a significant decline. This phenomenon not only threatens their income, but also economic and social stability in the area. This has resulted in serious economic uncertainty among the community, as they depend on their catch to meet their daily needs and send their children to school.
VisitBangles Indonesia, in September 2021 in the midst of the Covid-19 storm that hit, with Nogosari Mastermind going to Suriname was an important first step in responding to this problem. This trip took us (Banglele Indonesia) to Rust & Werk Village and Margreta Village, where they witnessed firsthand the impact of the decline in fish and shrimp catches and the impact on the local community.
One of the old buildings in Paramaribo, the capital of Suriname during Banglele Indonesia’s visit
One of the main challenges faced by village communities is the decline in shrimp catches. This decline was caused by various factors, including unstable weather conditions and flooding caused by global warming according to data from United Nations Development Programme, resulting in waterlogging in the mangrove forest where they usually catch shrimp. The floods have disturbed the shrimp's natural habitat and reduced their population, resulting in a significant decline in catches.
In Margreta Village, fishing for a type of Mozambican tilapia (Oreochromis mossambicus) Also decreased due to increased fishing intensity in swamp areas. The increasing intensity of fishing causes fish populations to decline drastically, which in turn can threaten the sustainability of the livelihoods of fishermen in the village.
Mozambican tilapia catch in Margareta Village
In facing the challenges faced by the fisheries sector in Suriname, Nogosari Mastermind together with Banglele Indonesia are trying to provide sustainable solutions by inviting local communities to switch to the fish and shrimp cultivation sector. One of the alternatives they proposed was the development of vannamei shrimp cultivation in Rust & Werk Village.
Rust & Werk Village was chosen as a potential location for developing vannamei shrimp cultivation for several reasons. First, its location on the banks of the Suriname River provides easy access to clean and sufficient water sources for shrimp cultivation. The condition of the water which has not been polluted by industrial waste makes this environment more suitable for the growth of healthy and quality shrimp. Apart from that, the existence of mangrove forests around the village also provides a natural environment that supports shrimp growth.
Second, Rust & Werk Village also has direct access to Caribbean countries on the Atlantic Ocean. This provides significant added value because it allows vannamei shrimp cultivation products from this village to be easily accessed by markets in these countries considering that there are quite a lot of them.
It is hoped that the development of vannamei shrimp cultivation in Rust & Werk Village will be an effective solution in overcoming the decline in wild shrimp catches while maintaining the stability of the local community's income. Considering that most of the residents of Rust & Werk depend on their livelihoods as shrimp fishermen, this step is very important in maintaining the sustainability of their livelihoods.
Further discussion of this plan has become one of the main agendas of the joint Nogosari Mastermind with Banglele Indonesia. In the process, the governments of the two countries, Indonesia and Suriname, have provided enormous support. This support covers a wide range of aspects, from permits and regulations, to technical and financial assistance, which will help ensure the success and sustainability of this project. Next steps will involve drawing up detailed and detailed plans, including selecting cultivation sites, procuring equipment and raw materials, and training local cultivators.
Not far from Rust & Werk Village, our journey continued to Margreta Village by following the Suriname River. In Margreta, the majority of people depend on fishermen for their livelihood. They carry out the activity of catching Mozambican tilapia fish and then packaging them for resale. However, here we also see the same pattern as what happened at Rust & Werk.
The fishermen in Margreta Village face similar difficulties to their counterparts in Rust & Werk Village. They are forced to enter increasingly distant swamps to look for fish, because the catch is getting smaller in closer waters. Continuous fishing has reduced fish populations and stunted their growth, resulting in a significant decline in catches.
The biggest concern is the possibility of a shortage of Mozambican tilapia fish in the future, which would threaten the main livelihood of the people of Margreta Village. In facing this challenge, one solution that can be considered is diversifying sources of income through developing fish farming. Just as has been proposed in Rust & Werk Village, developing fish farming could be a promising alternative to overcome the decline in wild fish catches while maintaining the stability of local community income.
Banglele Indonesia discussed with the residents of Margareta Village regarding the catchfish are in decline
Conclusion
Based on the results of observations and interviews we conducted in the two villages, it is clear that catches of fish and shrimp are increasingly difficult to find and increasingly rare. The impact of this decline not only impacts people's income, but also threatens economic and social stability in the area. In facing this situation, Nogosari Mastermind feels the need to take concrete steps to empower the local community.
One of the proposed solutions is to start sustainable fish and shrimp farming. This approach is expected to provide a stable and consistent alternative for community livelihoods, while also maintaining the sustainability of natural resources. Therefore, Nogosari Mastermind encourages residents of Rust & Werk and Margreta Villages to start thinking about and take steps to develop fish and shrimp cultivation.
This community economic empowerment project is planned to start immediately together with the Javanese community in the Commewijne and Nickerie Districts. This choice is not without reason, because in these two districts there is sufficient land and sufficient clean water to support fish and shrimp cultivation activities. From conversations with local residents, we also got positive replies that they also wanted to do this. This step will not only provide a sustainable alternative for people's livelihoods, but will also provide guarantees for their future prosperity.
The next step now is to develop a plan and find a way to immediately implement it well. Banglele Indonesia has identified a lot of potential in these two districts, and we are willing to offer a low consultation fee to support the development of this project. However, to implement this plan successfully, active support from local communities is needed.
Mr. Marciano Dasai, as chairman of the Nogosari Mastermind, emphasized the importance of involving local volunteers who have experience in shrimp and fish cultivation. They are an invaluable asset in preparing this project, as they have the knowledge, experience and practical skills necessary to support the implementation of this plan to success.
In order to support this effort, Nogosari Mastermind plans to immediately start a crowdfunding campaign as the basis and support for this project. This step is expected to help raise the necessary funds to start this project.
