Simeulue, IDN Times - Herdi sat with Faruq, at the end of Ain Bura Pier.The place used by residents of Pulau Bengkalak Village, South Teupah District, Simeulue Regency, Aceh, to lean ships after fishing or leaving to go to sea.While enjoying the sun which gradually dives on the western horizon, the two of them looked cool fishing on the shores.Yes, they only use threads that are no more than two motorboats in length and use fresh shrimp as bait.Smooth tugs without any resistance are often felt.As if not giving up hope, Asnadawati's husband continued to cast his hook, sinking at the edge of the bay surrounded by mangrove trees.Euphoria came to Faruq, when a hungry fish grabbed his hook.Seeing his little son laughing happily, Herdi just smiled while still offering his attention."Careful!Beware of falling down (the bay) later," said the father of three children reminded.Fishing on the pier is not Herdi's routine activity.This was done by the 47-year-old man only to fill the void of time after returning from work as a construction worker or when he did not go to sea.Herdi is a former fisherman using a conventional compressor.Activities and fishing aids that are clearly prohibited in Law (Law) Number 45 of 2009 concerning Amendments to Law Number 31 of 2004 concerning Fisheries.Then how did Asnadawati's husband get to know a tool that is considered not environmentally friendly and can also endanger the safety of its users?Herdi and Faruq, began to clean up when the Maghrib call to prayer began to echo on Simeulue Island.Carrying a container containing one fish that was caught, the father and son rode on an automatic motorbike through the streets where the sun was starting to leave.Not pulling the gas, both of them arrived at their house.In the semi-permanent house that Herdi cares for with his wife and three children, the man who was born on Bangkalak Island, 1975 told me that he knows and is involved in compressor diving.About four years ago.It started with an invitation from a fellow fisherman who offered to work together to capture various marine biota in an easy way and earn a lot of money.Interested and tempted by what was conveyed, the invitation was approved by Asnadawati's husband."Because he is the diver himself, while I am the one who owns the business, who owns the compressor and only carries it or the tekong," Herdi said.Getting breathing assistance through a compressor has made the Herdi team divers more free to plunder the underwater natural wealth of a number of areas in Simeulue Regency.Because, they are able to dive from a depth of three meters to 25 meters."So if you meet downstairs there are fish, lobsters, sea cucumbers, and various things as long as they sell well, grab them, brush!"What his colleague was luring at that time he admitted was true.Those who dive using a compressor are able to bring home at least Rp. 500 thousand per day by only working 10-15 hours.“A minimum of six times a week, if there are no obstacles, and those that do not operate on Friday nights, the rest will continue.From five in the afternoon until eight in the morning," he said.Herdi admitted that he had not struggled with compressors for a long time.Just a few months.This is because the father of three children is starting to understand the negative impact of the prohibited equipment in his fishing activities.In fact, at that time he had never received any socialization about the dangers of using a compressor.In addition, he did not want to deal with the law after learning that the Simeulue Regency Government had also issued a regulation prohibiting the use of compressors in fishing."Since there was this ban, I stopped the compressor.His immediate cessation of selling all compressor diving equipment.If there is still compressor equipment, of course, we can still go down,” said Herdi."The compressor is already in trouble.So we don't want to have to deal with legal issues," he added.Another factor that strengthened Asnadawati's husband to quit was his fellow fishermen.He is aware that the way to catch fish using a compressor also has an impact on the income of traditional fishermen.“If we use the compressor, deep or shallow it will all (fish) be used up.It's a shame for us too," he said.The proceeds from the sale of all equipment and supplies related to compressor diving, then bought Herdi a new motor boat.The ship is now being used to fish with traditional methods without destroying nature.During his return to fishing, he was only able to earn Rp. 100,000 per day.In fact, this father of three children also has to work as a construction worker in order to continue to support his family.Even though his efforts are still not enough to smoke their kitchen, he is still grateful.Because for him, the expenses when he was still involved as a compressor fisherman were somewhat larger than today."Because it's more blessed than us, a lot of money, but the term is that we have taken the names of people," said Herdi.From South Tuepah, IDN Times moved to East Simeulue, precisely in Ujung Tinggi Village.A village where most of the people depend on agriculture for a living, in addition to utilizing the wealth of the sea.The view of the plots of vegetable gardens and cloves being dried by the residents on the shoulder of the road, was presented just like that.In this village, IDN Times met a clove farmer who is also a fisherman.Her name is Zulfitra.He is a former compressor diver who has now repented.The smell of wet zamin wafted up shortly after the rain fell in Ujung Tinggi Village.Lecak created with him at some point.Including in the yard of Zulfitra's house, there are cloves harvested from her garden.In the living room of his house, the man who was born in 1989 told his experience while he was involved in the use of compressors.It all started when Zulfitra, who had just graduated from high school, was invited by a capital owner to join their team diving to catch sea cucumbers.Tempted by the lure of income and the family's economic background, the young man, who has been actively looking for octopuses by free-diving since junior high school, accepted the invitation.He also joined the team and started catching marine life with the help of a compressor.“Usually four people go once.Previously we only had Friday off.The rest is still diving," Zulfitra said.Their catch target is sea cucumbers.This is because the selling price is higher.This makes the young man who is now married, Titi Hermayanti, able to bring home one million rupiah per day in just a matter of hours of diving.Their area of ​​operation is only in the waters of the East Simeulue District.Also Read: 10 Facts Related to Oil Drilling Exploding in East AcehBeing able to generate an income of one million rupiah per day, makes Zulfitra satisfied.But behind it all, there is a life that he must risk while on the seabed with an average depth of 50-100 meters.In addition to the threat of marine predators, water pressure and temperature are also the most frightening things.The young man who graduated from the Aceh Darussalam Maritime Academy in Banda Aceh City, had his own experience with water temperature or what they call water cramps.He confessed twice that he almost lived in name and no longer saw the world.In fact, the most memorable experience that made Zulfitra deterrent was when she and Rasadi - a fellow compressor diver - were exposed to cramping water.The incident occurred in 2010, when they were diving on the border between Ujung Tinggi and Air Pinang Village.Those who had been diving for more than an hour at a depth of 50 meters were suddenly pulled onto the boat.Because the breathing tube they are using has reached its limit and is no longer stretched out enough if they want to move to a shallower place.Zulfitra and Rasadi who had exhausted a lot of energy during the dive, could only give in when pulled.Not long after, they immediately fell unconscious when they arrived at the surface."It's like a stroke person.The whole body was stiff and helpless.His position is not in the water, but already above,” said the man who is also part of the Ujung Tinggi Village BPD."When we got to the top, less than 10 minutes, we immediately hit (fainted)."Both of them were dying, were immediately taken to the hospital by his colleagues.Zulfitra managed to survive even though she had been unconscious for a long time, while Rasadi died.The events that Zulfitra experienced more than a decade ago made her realize.He is also grateful that the cramping that befell him did not end in paralysis like most other compressor divers experience.The living room of the house, which is shaped to the side, only contains a mound of cloves ready for sale.The results of the plantation have become one of Zulfitra's current sources of livelihood, apart from being the deputy chairman of the Ujung Tinggi Village Consultative Body (BPD) and remaining persistent as a traditional fisherman.The income from these three jobs is certainly not commensurate with the money earned when he was still involved as a compressor fisherman.Plus, manual freediving catches aren't as plentiful as they were a decade ago.However, the husband of Titi Hermayanti does not regret his choice.He can still be grateful to be given health so that he can still earn a living for his family."It's a side job, including gardening, the important thing is to make money," said Zulfitra as she poked a pile of cloves with both hands.As if trying to atone for past sins, Herdi and Zulfitra are now mingling in the traditional Panglima Laot community and part of the Monitoring Community Group (Pokmaswas) of the Water Conservation Area.Armed with their existing experience, they often participate in operations to protect the conservation area and the Panglima Laot (lhok) area on the coast of their respective villages.The aim is to conserve people's livelihoods at sea while preventing illegal and destructive fishing activities.Herdi joined the 2020 Pokmaswas when he was invited by the Maritime Affairs and Fisheries Service (DKP) of Simeulue Regency.Since being involved in the group, he admits that he often meets unscrupulous fishermen, as he did several years ago.In fact, during 2020 - 2021, more than 10 ships have been found.During that period, Herdi admitted that he did not immediately carry out executions [secure] or report, but rather used a humanist approach by giving warnings and education regarding prohibitions, legal sanctions, and the harmful effects of using compressors."We make them aware, because we need to give advice," said Herdi."There are also unscrupulous fishermen, if uncooperative elements and demeaning the applicable rules with a heavy heart, we have to report them," continued Herdi.Meanwhile, stopping using the compressor made Zulfitra realize the importance of protecting the ocean.The man who was born in Ujung Tinggi Village began to think, the marine ecosystem in his hometown has suffered a lot of damage.In addition, the capture and exploitation of marine products on a large scale currently carried out will have an impact in the future."Not only for us, but for our children and grandchildren," he said.Yes, fish, sea cucumbers, and other marine biota are assets that must be maintained to be preserved in the future.Herdi and Zulfitra's decision to stop fishing with compressors is an extraordinary effort and deserves appreciation.Both of them shared a message and asked other fishermen who are still actively using the compressor as a breathing apparatus when diving, to stop.Because, if that awareness arises and we start taking care of what is left today, marine products will certainly return to stability as before.Slightly quoting Zulficar Mochtar, former Head of the Marine and Fisheries Research and Human Resources Agency (KKP) to one of the national media several years ago, regarding the negative effects of using a compressor engine as a breathing apparatus for divers.As a result, divers can experience paralysis, deafness, decompression and various other things, even death.Also Read: Fisherman's Dilemma Protecting Simeulue's Treasuresare you old enough yet?