POTENCY OF FISHERY
In reference to the data of PDRB of Sabang town, fishery sub-sector is always increasing with the average of 13.6 % per year from the year of 1997 up to 2000 and its contribution to agricultural sector has also made it increase. Whereas, the number of fishermen in Sabang town is too fluctuating since 1993—2000 that there are approximately 950—1050 fishermen.
Fishery production of the District of Aceh Island also shows a promising number. About 4.7 % of the total of fishery production in the sub-province of Aceh Besar in 1999 is the haul of this district. The total of fishery production of the District of Aceh Island in the year of 1999 is 533.30 ton with most part coming from sea fishery. Whereas, the number of fishermen including permanent sea fishermen for the year of 2000 is 396 fishermen and coastal pond is 10 fishermen.
Fish production in Sabang is especially coming from sea fishery and this is due to limited area of pond and dam. During 1998—2002, the sea fishery production tends to have improvement (Table 4.9). This improvement is related to progressively increasing armada and appliances of catching fish possessed by the people.
Based on the collected data, it shows that the long-lasting potency of fish in Malacca’s strait is big enough amounting to 215.664 ton per day with domination of small Palagis of 119.600 ton per day and Damersal fish of 82.400 ton per day. Others are prawns, Penoid, lobsters and squids. Whereas, the potency of fish in Indian ocean is 923.341 ton per day with domination of small Palagis of 429.711 ton per day, Cakalang of 112.921 ton per day, Tuna of 91.910 ton per day and Tuna fish of 90.516 per day. The other fish potency like prawns, squids, and coral fish is less than 30.0000 ton per day.
Potency of the said fish resources is not fully exploited yet by the fisherman in the territorial waters. Therefore by the increase of fish-catching appliances, the fish catching result still can be raised. As shown on Tables 4.12, the business opportunity of sea fish catching is still promising because the exploiting level is still relatively moderate. The exploitation of sea fish catching whose chance is still available enough is small Palagis (59%), big Palagis (42-77%), Damersal (35%), Squid (46%) and Penoid shrimps (84%). Fish which has no chance to be exploited is grouper which is overexploited.
According to its geographical position, area of Sabang’s area is in northwest territorial water of Sumatra and Malacca Strait whose potency of fish resource is very big. Besides sea fish catching, the development of fish cultivation which has the basis of fishpond or sea (system of floating fish-net keramba) also has good opportunity to be developed on the coast of Weh Island and Aceh Island. The potency of fishpond (land) in Weh Island is 62.5 hectares which is divided into two areas i.e. Sukajaya of 20.5 hectares and Sukakarya of 42.0 hectares. This business of cultivation can be conducted especially for prawns and Nila fish. Whereas, sea cultivation like Grouper, seaweed, pearl shells, motley fish and etcetera can be carried out in the area of coastal line.
The availability of fish which is sufficiently excessive in Sabang as obviously explained above of course can be a basis for developing the fishery industry that is considered superior in this area. This matter is also supported by the existence of trilateral development of economical growth that makes Sabang as alternative center for the development of strategic fishery industry. By the policy of Sabang as Free Trade Zone and Free Port, this opportunity can be more supported because expectedly it can assist the coming of big investment for the development of integrated fishery industry.
