The volcanic activity of Mount Anak Krakatau, which is currently at Level III (Alert), has not deterred fishermen on the coast of Lampung from earning a living. Most fisheries workers in the region have chosen to continue going to sea, albeit with extra vigilance regarding the danger radius established by the relevant authorities.
Edi Muhtadi, a fisherman from Pasaran Island, stated that the government's warning is understood as a preventive measure for personal safety. Nevertheless, economic necessity forces them to continue operating. Fishermen generally avoid the area automatically if they see signs of eruption or significantly increased volcanic activity around the mountain's crater.
Echoing this sentiment, the Chairman of the All-Indonesia Fishermen's Association (HNSI) of South Lampung, Yudi, emphasized that fishermen's activities remain within safe limits. Most fishermen are currently concentrating their catch locations in the waters around Kalianda to Sebuku Island, which are geographically located quite far from the restricted zone of Mount Anak Krakatau.
Although fishing activities continue as normal, Yudi admitted that there are other economic challenges facing the fishermen. Currently, catches have dropped drastically by up to 75 percent. However, this condition is not entirely caused by volcanic activity, but rather by natural cycle factors such as the full moon phase, which also affects fish movement in the sea.
HNSI continues to urge all members to prioritize safety over catch size. The synergy between fishermen's compliance with the safe radius and government supervision is expected to ensure the safety of sea workers while maintaining their livelihoods amid the fluctuating activity of Mount Anak Krakatau.
