Indonesian Catholics aim to preserve local river

Program planted some 5,000 fertilized fish eggs in the hope of repopulating the river's stock.

Semarang:  In an attempt to repopulate a Central Java river, some 1,000 Indonesian Catholics took part in an effort to spread 500,000 fertilized fish eggs.

The "Church Cares for River" program was jointly conducted by seven parishes in Semarang to help preserve the 9.2-kilometer-long Banjir Kanal Barat river, said Natalis Utomo, event organizer.

"The program is a movement of repentance for ecological sins," he told ucanews.com of the April 3 program, which was held on Divine Mercy Sunday "so as to remind all of us that our life is very supported by the womb of Mother Earth."

Utomo said that the program was aimed at spurring an interest in environment for all local residents, not just Catholics.

Jesuit Father Agustinus Sarwanto, an ecological expert and parish priest at St. Therese of the Child Jesus Parish in Bongsari, said that the river and the Jatibarang reservoir were chosen for the program because "the fish population in the river and reservoir has diminished."

Gov. Ganjar Pranowo thanked the church for organizing the program, saying that local people find it difficult to catch fish in the river.

"I thank local church for taking part in returning the ecological function of rivers," he said.

Agus Mohadi, who lives in nearby Krobokan village, said he looks forward to returning to the river in a few months in the hope that the parrotfish seeds "will grow bigger for when I come here to catch fish."

Source: UCAN