Polluted Flood Canal Offers Poor Residents in East Jakarta Tainted Catch

[Emily]

http://www.thejakartaglobe.com/nvironment/polluted-flood-canal-offers-poor-residents-tainted-catch/440360

Polluted Flood Canal Offers Poor Residents Tainted Catch
Elisabeth Oktofani | May 11, 2011

"When 80-year-old Madi has no money to buy food for him and his wife, he casts a net in the polluted waters of the East Flood Canal hoping to haul in fish.

The waters are often caked with foam from detergent used by nearby houses or even industrial waste dumped in rivers flowing into the canal, also known as the BKT.

However, this doesn?t bother Madi, a resident of Duren Sawit in East Jakarta, who will settle for a tainted catch.

?I have learned my lesson,? he said on Tuesday. ?I cannot cook the fish immediately because if I do, I will get stomach aches.? ...."

Fish has to be soaked in bucket of clean water for 3-4 days prior to coooking.

"Ratim has frequented the BKT enough to know when the fish taste good based on the canal?s water level.

?I usually don?t get many fish when the water [level is low], but the fishes usually taste better,? he said.

?I think it is because when the water is receding, the water is cleaner so the fishes do not have a weird taste, like oil.?"