Tuesday, December 28, 2021. It is still early in the day. The hands of the clock pointed at 08.15 WIB. I went to the Fish Auction Place (TPI) in Lampulo Village, Banda Aceh after taking my wife selling starchy porridge. Once a week I come to TPI to buy shrimp or fish.
Usually, before buying shrimp or fish, I first look at the activities of the fishermen or monitor the atmosphere at the TPI. Looking at the types of fish being sold is one of my hobbies. In fact, before deciding what kind of fish to buy, I often spend time watching fishermen unload fish from motor boats.
I have been doing this habit for a long time. As a person who lives and grew up in a village that borders the sea, seeing fishing activities is very fun. In fact, I often spend the afternoon looking at trawling activities on the coast of Kampung Jawa, Banda Aceh. So often I see the activity of pulling a trawl, I can memorize what fish the fishermen have caught.
After feeling satisfied looking at the atmosphere at TPI, I was ready to buy shrimp ordered by my wife. Before buying shrimp at a subscription place, I had time to listen to the conversation between a seller and a buyer. "Poor mother later if you buy shrimp under 5 kg," said the seller. Before the mother had time to ask, the seller added, "At the entrance, the officers will throw your groceries away."
"Discarded why?" asked the buyer's mother, half curious.
"Now there is a policy, it is not allowed to buy fish under 5 kg. At the entrance to the TPI, the purchased fish will be weighed. If it's less than 5 kg, you can't take it out."
At that time, I wanted to buy 2 kg of shrimp. But, when I heard the chat, I didn't buy it. I immediately rushed to the TPI exit. Sure enough, there were officers from the Marine and Fisheries Service (DKP) standing guard at the door. There were two scales with them.
I didn't leave right away. On the left before the entrance there is a wooden seat, I chose to wait there. I want to see how they work. A number of mothers who brought fish were stopped at the door. The baggage is weighed. If less than 5 kg, they are not allowed to leave the TPI. Men who brought fish of less than 5 kg were also intercepted. No favoritism.
For them there are two options. Hand over the groceries to the clerk and go home empty-handed, or return the purchased fish to the seller. Apparently, many of them chose the second option. I saw several people who had been intercepted before leaving the TPI with nothing. They were clearly annoyed.
There is actually a third option. They could have circumvented the rules by combining shopping. So, before leaving the TPI, the purchased fish were combined with other buyers who also did not reach 5 kg. If they are combined, the amount will certainly reach 5 kg, and can be taken out of the TPI freely. Or it could be that the fish were entrusted to the retailer who bought the fish there.
The policy was the aftermath of a demonstration by retail fish sellers from the Al Mahirah market. A few days before the policy was made, this seller held a trade in front of the DKP office in charge of TPI and ports. This trader is disappointed with the behavior of the big boss at TPI who sells fish in retail. As a result, very few people buy fish at the Al Mahirah market. People prefer to buy fish at TPI, which is of course cheaper.
After the demonstration, a rule was made that sellers at TPI are not allowed to sell retail fish under 5 kg to buyers. Officers will be on guard at the entrance from morning to evening to enforce this rule. The purchased fish will be weighed at the exit. If less than 5 kg, the fish should not be taken out of the TPI.
On the concrete fence near the entrance, a warning banner was installed which prohibited the public from buying fish under 5 kg. If this rule is violated, strict action will be taken.
Several months earlier, at the entrance to the TPI, barricades had been installed, guarded by the police. Every TPI visitor will be stopped and asked about their needs to TPI. They will be directed to buy fish at the Al Mahirah market. Later, when I went to TPI again, I saw that there were no more barricades installed. And, recently a rule was made not to buy fish under 5 kg. []
