Cantrang Policy
The issue of fishing gear  Cantrang in Indonesia has actually emerged since the era of President Soeharto. In 1980, small fishermen demanded that trawlers (trawls) be banned from operating because they were considered to have harmed them. Suharto also issued Presidential Decree No. 39/1980 concerning the elimination of trawling nets which took effect on October 1, 1980 for the waters of the Java Sea. Then followed, taking effect on the island of Sumatra starting January 1, 1981.
Lapse 35 years later, polemic fishing gear reappeared during the administration of President Jokowi. This follows the issuance of the Minister of Maritime Affairs Regulation No. 2/2015 concerning the prohibition of using trawls and trawlers (Seine Nets). The use of cantrang, including those prohibited in accordance with this regulation, began January 8, 2015.
The regulation issued by the Minister of Maritime Affairs and Fisheries, Susi Pudjiastuti, was immediately responded to by strong protests from the fishermen. They reject the ban on the use of cantrang. Fishermen judge that cantrang is different from trawling which does endanger the environment.
The government finally delayed the ban on the use of cantrang. The postponement of the cantrang ban has been extended by the government three times. The first extension was set until December 2016, through Circular No. 72 / MEN-KP / II / 2016, concerning Restrictions on the Use of Cantrang Fishing Tools in WPPNRI. The reason for the extension is because the government has not completed the cantrang replacement tool.
However, the ban on cantrang was again relaxed until June 2017, through the Circular of the Director General of Capture Fisheries No. B.664 / DJPT / PI.220 / VI / 2017. After that, the third allowance will last until the end of December 2017 through the Director General of Fisheries No. Circular B.743 / DJPT / PI.220 / VII / 2017 concerning the Assistance of Transition of Trawler and Trawler Fishing Equipment in WPPNRI. Again, the reason for the extension is because of the unfinished replacement fishing gear.
For fishermen, using cantrang is very beneficial because it can get a lot of fish catch. In addition, the price of cantrang nets is also affordable compared to trawl rings whose prices can reach hundreds of millions to billions of rupiah.
Cantrang replacement policy
The government has indeed made various efforts to anticipate the policy. First, the replacement of fishing gear for cantrang vessels weighing less than 10 GT, such as gillnet, folding traps, bottom longlines and so forth.
Secondly, facilitating 10-30 GT cantrang vessels in obtaining financing from financial institutions to replace fishing gear. Third, provide central licensing service facilities through licensing outlets for cantrang vessels with more than 30 GT.
Management of cantrang for mutual interest
