Once renowned for its tranquillity and abundance, the village of Jeruksari on the north coast of Pekalongan Regency has endured a profound transformation over the past two decades. The phrase “gemah ripah loh jinawi,” symbolizing peace, prosperity, and fertility, no longer resonates as it once did. Jasmine fields, high-quality rice, and thriving fish ponds were once the village’s pride.
However, the convergence of rising sea levels and land subsidence has relentlessly reshaped Jeruksari’s landscape. The gradual erosion of fertile farmland and productive ponds has given way to stagnant waters, a consequence of regular tidal floods that have plagued the area since 2009.
These tidal floods have not merely reshaped the physical terrains, but also affected the socio-economic conditions of Jeruksari’s inhabitants. Farmers were compelled to shift to fish cultivation as their rice fields were permanently submerged in seawater. However, this shift in livelihood failed to bring significant economic improvement. The incessant floods made fish farming arduous, leaving them grappling with meagre incomes.
Moreover, in an attempt to minimize the risk of inundation, the majority of Jeruksari’s residents raised the floors of their homes periodically, neglecting the need for similar adjustments to their roofs. Consequently, numerous dwellings in the village have low roofs vulnerable to the climate. Regrettably, these deteriorating conditions prompted a mass exodus as the village’s population sought alternative means of livelihood elsewhere.
Despite these challenges, a glimmer of hope emerges as the resilient spirit of Jeruksari refuses to be extinguished.
Struggling against the Tidal Flood
Unlike many residents who chose to leave, Nasir remained in the village, continue his life as a fish farmer despite the challenges. The relentless tidal floods and erosion not merely made fish farming difficult and diminished his income but also caused his fish pond and those of other farmers in Jeruksari Village to sink and become unusable.
Undeterred by these obstacles, Nasir maintained his optimism and employed various methods to mitigate the losses caused by the floods. One strategy was cultivating grouper fish (Epinephellus fuscoguttatus-lanceolatus), known for their resilience in flood-prone coastal areas. With 1,000 fish seeds provided by the local government, he opted for cage cultivation. Unfortunately, nearly half of his fish seeds vanished within three months as the nets he used became loose when submerged in seawater.
Disappointed but determined, Nasir regained his enthusiasm. He decided to try cultivating milkfish(Chanos chanos) using a similar method. However, his efforts proved futile as the strong currents destroyed the nets. Unflinching, Nasir persisted and attempted his luck for the third time. This time, he cultivated parrot fish (Oreochromis niloticus) and shrimp (Caridean shrimp). Unfortunately, this endeavour failed as birds preyed on the fish and shrimp seeds. Surprisingly, despite these consecutive setbacks, Nasir remained steadfast in his belief that his land could once again yield bountifully.
Nasir and his fellow fish farmers in Jeruksari found hope in the government’s announcement of plans to construct an embankment along the north coast of Pekalongan Regency in 2019. They believed this development could bring an end to their misery. However, instead of improving their lives, the construction of the embankment resulted in approximately 30 hectares of fish ponds being deeply submerged and rendered unproductive for fish cultivation. Nonetheless, the dike protected the residential area, offering a glimmer of security amidst the challenges they faced.
A floating net of hope
Fortuitously, the program “Improved Adaptation Capacities of At-risk Coastal Communities in Indonesia and the Philippines through Inclusive Community-based Actions and Learnings” reached Jeruksari Village. This collaboration involves ACCORD Inc., ASB Indonesia and the Philippines, and the Bintari Foundation with funding support from Germany’s Federal Ministry of Economic Cooperation and Development.
Through this program, Nasir and his colleagues from the Jeruksari Fish Farmers Group, in partnership with the Bintari Foundation and experts from Pekalongan University Fisheries Service, engaged in focused discussions and field studies. Their goal was to understand the root causes of the long-standing problems they faced and explore potential solutions.
They discovered that despite the continuous tidal floods, the water quality in their pond area remained adequate for fish farming. Combined with convenient access to fish seeds, they saw the possibility of sustaining their fish farming activities. However, to minimize their failures, they were encouraged to adopt the use of floating nets—a method commonly employed by other Indonesian fish farmers but unfamiliar to the Jeruksari residents.
“We began by assembling nets and attaching them to a 4×4 meter bamboo frame equipped with a floating jerry can. Despite our unfamiliarity with this method, we were eager to test it,” explained Nasir.
In October 2021, they spread no less than 2,400 milkfish (Chanos chanos) seeds in floating nets covering a 128-square-meter area. The harvest was expected in January 2022, and fortunately, the initial trial encountered no significant problems.
“We were confident in the outcome because, with assistance from Bintari, we had previously tested fish growth and the floating pond construction’s resistance to waves and tides. Additionally, we built ponds to minimize the risk of birds of prey disturbing our fish,” said Nasir.
Further, he expressed great expectations for the success of the floating net method. It had the potential to resolve the problems they had faced for years and enable them to optimize the utilization of their fish ponds.
