REPUBLIKA.CO.ID, SOUTH TAPANULI — The jurung fish is now almost extinct. All this time, the fishes is often to be used for traditional events.
However, the jurung fish is now being bred. To preserve the fish in Batangtoru River, PT North Sumatra Hydro Energy (NSHE) provided indoor hatchery with 42 aquariums and also give training for farmers.
“We do spawning of jurung fish and later it will be spread again in the river and will be more numerous,” said Chief of Communications and External Affairs PT NSHE Firman Taufick.
The existence of Batangtoru River water is maintained by keeping trees sustainable. Planting has been carried out in several locations around the hydropower plant by PT NSHE. In addition to maintaining water availability, the trees will benefit orangutans.
“We are very support the efforts to conserve water and forests, because the sustainability of the hydropower plant depends on the water presence,” said Firman.
Jurung fish or also known as Batak fish will be cultivated along 13 km Batangtoru River. PT NSHE cooperates with farmer Anton Sihombing in breeding. In 2017, he has trained the fish farming in Bogor and the knowledge, also technology that he learned then practiced at the indoor hatchery.
"For the Bataknese, this fish is very important and sacred," said Anton.
The fish is believed to have many benefits, including medication. Therefore, people were often to catch this fish. Anton said, he has learned to cultivate Jurung fish for 10 years.
Previously he had bred manually. However, the success rate was less than 30 percent of the total eggs produced by the brood.
“After working with NSHE and indoor hatchery built, spawning can succeed until 90 percent,” Anton added.