Each visit to a (fish market) of ikan pasar in Indonesia can be an unforgettable experience. Not only for the smell and frenetic activity around the market, but also because it is a mirror on aquatic life in the archipelago, even for people used to see only the fish served on a plate.
fish markets are frequented by housewives, restaurant staff and even scientists. There several years, a biologist discovered the presence of a rare fish considered extinct for thousands of years in a fish market Manado. Recently, a team of Australian scientists, after reviewing the Indonesian fish markets, discovered several species new to science, including new shark species.
Near the tourist area of ​​Jimbaran, local buyers flock to the market for seafood in the area. The market is "structured" into three main parts: a large area, a space for public sale and an area with local fishermen who sell their products directly on the beach. If you arrive early enough (usually around 6 am) you will have the opportunity to observe traditional Jukung (double traditional Balinese outrigger canoe) to return to earth after a night at sea.
Within hours frenzied before the opening of the official market (about 7 hours), many vans everywhere Bali will bring fresh seafood in ice boxes, ready to be delivered to Jimbaran sellers. The ice plant producing nearly provides long ice bars to keep the fish fresh. From personal observation and talking to vendors, Jimbaran fishermen usually bring small fish or reef-associated small tuna (such as mackerel) that are sold to local customers, while larger fish, clams and shellfish are mainly the largest fishing villages in the north of Bali, as Kusamba and Amed region.
An eye on sustainable fishing
What I have noticed is a relatively high presence of too small animals (such as small tuna and coral groupers), which is a clear indication of overfishing of these species. When big fish have already been targeted for many years, it has been scientifically shown that the average body size of a fish population can decrease, what happened to many populations of coral grouper all around Indonesia and the world. Even while diving in protected areas, it is very rare to see a grouper over 25-30 cm. Several fishermen I spoke to told me that, especially over the last 10 years, the size of the bigger fish is definitely shrinking.
Big specimens of the so-called Mahi Mahi (dolphin fish) indicate they could probably be a good choice from a standpoint of overfishing. There was not a lot of barracudas around, and when they are there, they are snapped up quickly because they are very easy to sell to tourists. The only big fish reef size seemed big snappers, like red snapper (Kakap Merah).
There are also squid (cumi-cumi), shrimp (udang), crabs (Kepiting), a couple of huge lobsters (udang raya), and many species of clams and scallops (tiram) . Crustaceans such as crabs and lobsters are usually caught in the wild with different traditional techniques like traps or fishing by hand. Shrimp, the majority of the Asian tigers (udang of windu), raise a big question of sustainability as they are normally grown in large artificial ponds near the sea, usually replacing the mangrove areas and create problems within the community.
To avoid the presence of pests and diseases, these farms use large quantities of antibiotics that after some time could invalidate the firm, new to be built, replacing the more coastal mangroves. Shrimp intensive farming should be avoided, while the traditional crop can be accepted, although it is quite difficult to understand their true source.
trawl fishery for tropical prawns and wild subtropical captured 27% of catches of fish in the world: as much as 10 kg is discarded for each kg of shrimp brought to the earth. Bycatch include the capture of endangered species such as sea turtles and dolphins. Cephalopods like squid normally are not overfished (with some exceptions): just check the real freshness of what you will buy. I had a cumi-cumi food poisoning a few years ago and it was a terrible experience.
The key to each consumer is to be aware of its impact on the world. If there was no demand for shark fin, our ocean would still be full of sharks. Consumers make a difference in the choices of every day, even in the small Jimbaran market. An electronic guide to sustainable seafood in Indonesia is available on the WWF website
http://awsassets.wwf.or.id/downloads/seafood_guide_electronic_new.pdf
Try to get sustainable seafood is an important choice that can influence the future of our oceans. It is just a drop in the sea, but if the demand for endangered species is reduced, their catch will be reduced.
A quick guide to sustainable fisheries in Bali
Say YES to
- Cakalang (Skypjack Tuna)
- Cumi-Cumi (Squid)
- Mahi-Mahi (dolphin fish)
- Salem (Rainbow Runner)
- Teri (Anchovies)
- Farmed Kerapu (Barramundi)
- Traditional Udang Windu (Tiger Shrimp)
Say NO to:
- All species of Hiu (Shark)
- Each species of wild caught Kerapu (Barramundi and groupers)
- Penyu (Turtle) and eggs
- Maming (Napoleon wrasse)
- tuna Biru (bluefin)
- Ikan telur (fish eggs)
- intensive agriculture Udang Windu (Tiger Prawns)