Bangka-Belitung is a province of Indonesia that is in the form of hundreds of small islands with a number of islands that are named numbered 470 islands, while the ones with inhabitants are 50 islands. The province has an area of 16,424 Km2 and it boasts 15 investments, its infrastructures are 2 industrial centers, 2 airports, 26 ports, 25 educational facilities, 103 hotels and 23 hospitals. 

BKPM or the Indonesian Investment Coordinating Board is a Government Agency that is in charge of implementing policy and service coordination in the investment sector in accordance with the regulations. Which was established in 1973, currently it is led by Minister Bahlil Lahadalia since 2021.

The government facilitates cold storage facilities

A cold storage facility was established in 2021 at Pangkalpinang with an investment of IDR6.81 billion, an interest rate of return (IRR) of 42%, a net present value (NPV) of IDR4.45 billion and a payback of 2.8 years.

In general, the project is to support the ever-growing fishing industry in the region. The production rate of the fishing industry is increasing each day continuously. The investment would acquire advanced fishing technology, government assistance programs, laws and regulations and an increase in the number of fishing fleets with large capacities. 

Previously the fishery commodities in the region are abundant yet are not well received in the market as they do not have adequate cold storage facilities. The purpose of the construction is to provide fish storage space for capture fishermen and business actors to acquire fresh commodities of fish.

The region is known to have white beaches in a span of 2Km and the location is roughly 8Km from the city center of Pangkalpinang. The investment is profitable since the beaches have their own uniqueness in the form of their sloping beach, a solid contour that enables easy access for pedestrians and vehicles alike. 

Challenges to the fishing industry

There are several problems facing the fishing industry let alone facilitating the increase of fishing production. Firstly, the diversity degradation of marine life due to human activities and the decrease of production due to over-fishing and illegal, unreported and unregulated fishing (IUU). The Ministry of Marine and Fisheries have answers to the problem.

Sakti Wahyu Trenggono the Minister of Marine and Fisheries explained, "the measured fishing policy is about controlled fishing that is carried out in areas that have been determined based on fishing quotas. This is in the context of preserving fish resources and the environment, providing business opportunities, investment certainty, providing justice and improving the welfare of fishermen."

Meanwhile, the waters around the island are contaminated by excessive lead mining. According to ekuatorial.com, research was conducted in the Matras area, it is concluded that the region is polluted by heavy metals that are toxic and carcinogenic destroying the coral reefs and forcing the fishermen to find other fishing areas or even jobs.

Jessix Amundian Director of Bangka Belitung The Indonesian Forum for Environment (WALHI) explained, “mining waste in the sea can be carried away by currents which will ultimately have an impact on fishing areas. So it is clear, that the existence of a mine zoning adjacent to the fishing area is two opposite things. Therefore, studies related to ocean current patterns must be carried out immediately.”