Twitter Users Vent Frustrations after Jokowi Lifted Cantrang Ban

TEMPO.CO, Jakarta - President Joko Widodo (Jokowi) decided to revoke the cantrang ban up to an undetermined time. Cantrang is a fishing device similar to a Danish seine.

The decision was made after the president held a discussion with representatives of the fishermen alliance that rallied in front of the Presidential Palace on Wednesday, January 17.

Read also: Jokowi Revokes Cantrang Ban, Susi Urges Fishermen to Honor It

The resolution was announced to the hundreds of fishermen by the Maritime Affairs and Fisheries Minister Susi Pudjiastuti. She is known as the figure behind the initiation of the cantrang ban. However, this decision was met with conflicting opinions by the public that was voiced in the social media realm.

Several of them regret that the ban was revoked. Such as a Twitter user of the name @Ricky_Pratam4 who regretted Jokowi’s decision that he views would only benefit a small group of people.

“Speechless, sacrificing the nation’s future through its marine ecosystem for the interest of a handful of people,” he tweeted.

Many Twitter users shared the same sentiment such as another Twitter user of the name @pragsoffcl6 who tweeted his concern regarding the implications of the lifted ban on cantrang. “This is a shortsighted mindset, it isn’t sustainable, please do continue banning the use of cantrang @susipudjiastuti,” he tweeted.

Read also: President Jokowi Revokes Ban on Cantrang

Many Twitter users also vented their frustration towards this decision by urging President Jokowi and Minister Susi to stay firm with their principle and ignore the pressures coming from groups that had been fighting for the ban to be lifted. Such was voiced by @pbrch who tweeted, “@jokowi @susipudjiastuti don’t bother about the greedy fishermen who utilizes cantrang that damages coral reefs and small fish species.”

CAESAR AKBAR