Bangli, Peace and Harmony

Fishing Tourism at Lake Batur

As the one and only regency in Bali that does not have sea, Bangli has an amply huge potential of freshwater aquaculture. Such potentials lie on the rice field, river and Lake Batur that has been noted as the most extensive lake in Bali. Bali has four lakes, namely the Batur (1,718.75 ha), while Beratan (370 ha) occurs in Tabanan. Lake Buyan (360 ha) and Tamblingan (110 ha) lie in Buleleng Regency, North Bali.

On that account, the Bangli Regency with the population numbering 200,000 will not lack of ‘space’ to develop fishery culture. It excludes the result of minapadi or rice-fish cultivation (1,680 ha), eutrophic waters (336,02 ha), dam (2.4 ha), river (31 ha) and some irrigation channels that taken advantage to grow freshwater fish. According to Head of Animal Husbandry and Fishery Services of Bangli Regency, I Wayan Sutapa the fishery product in 2005 of his region reached 325 tons. Such quantity is resulted in aquaculture activity and the catches at public waters. "Fishery production by floating cage at Lake Batur gives the most contribution, namely 166 tons," he says to Bali Travel News. Also added, to develop and boost fishery production in Bangli, his party prepares some package programs like the scattering of fish seedling. In 2005, some 5.7 million seedling are scattered of various kinds comprising the nile, tawes and carp. "These seedlings are scattered in the Lake Batur, irrigation furrow and rice field," he says. In particular, the Lake Batur is extremely potential as fishery aquaculture and his party has determined several policies that can drive the community at its surrounding to develop this aquaculture. Even, a synergic program has been set in motion to launch. For instance, the fishing tour package has been designed in such a way that it’s worth selling to tourists. From immemorial time, the Lake Batur has been known as tourist object with magnificent panorama, namely where the mountain, lake and caldera intimately meet. "Fishing activities at Lake Batur with the backdrop of Mount Batur must be immensely absorbing," he says promotingly. (BTN/suka)