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'Ihan Batak', a protected rare fish species

nusantaraberdaya.com - Swarno Lumbangaol, a tourism graduate from a university in Medan, North Sumatra. After completing college, he worked for more than 20 years as an educator in Aceh, Kota Meulaboh and Nagan Raya. Furthermore, Swarno chose to return to his hometown to Kampung Bakkara, Marbun Tongak Dolok.

After returning to Bakkara, he wanted to continue the family's legacy of fish farming in ponds. In addition to cultivating fish, he is also a tour guide. Now, he aspires to cultivate 'Ihan Batak' (Batak Fish). He was moved to cultivate this Batak fish because he saw this fish is an endemic fish species in the waters of Lake Toba and is currently increasingly rare.

Seedlings of Batak Fish (Neolissochilus thienemann), he took from the rivers around Humbang Hasundutan and Samosir. Batak fish is one of the typical Batak fish that only exists in this area. These fish are then kept in aquaculture ponds with several other types of fish.

The local Fisheries Service then saw Swarno's action and helped develop the preservation of this Batak fish. He once introduced this Batak fish at the North Sumatra Fair at Humbang Hasundutan. This event was organized by the Ministry of Tourism for 30 days and was attended by President Joko Widodo.

This is the reason for Suwarno to carry out this activity in order to prevent the extinction of Batak Fish which is the only fish species that only exists in the Batak area. In addition to cultivating Batak fish, he also preserves plants as food for the fish. “The food is azolla, a type of aquatic plant that is around here. I also cultivate it," he said.

Azolla (Mosquito ferns) is a type of fern that lives in water. Usually found in flooded land or rice fields with a size of 1.5-2.5 centimeters. The shape of the small leaves overlap with the color of the reddish green leaf surface.

 Batak fish is a protected rare fish

The Ministry of Maritime Affairs and Fisheries of the Republic of Indonesia has issued Decree of the Minister of Marine Affairs and Fisheries Number 1 of 2021 which states that Batak Fish as endemic fish are protected with full protection status.

From the LIPI study, Batak Fish have a flat body lengthwise, a neck four times shorter than the standard length and a silver color. There are 10 scales in front of the dorsal fin and 26 scales along the lateral line. This fish is listed as an endangered species by the International Union for The Conservation of Nature (IUCN).

Batak fish are known to have a strong structure. This fish swims against the swift current of the river until it has a dense bone texture.

Swarno Lumban Gaol, Preserving Batak Fish with Cultivation

Batak Fish In Cultural Tradition

Batak fish in Batak culture is a symbol of tradition and has an important role for sacred rituals. According to Swarno, Batak fish was a treat for kings in the past. Batak fish are also an offering to God (mula so na bolon) in a series of traditional events given by 'hula-hula' (relatives from the wife's side).  He is believed to be blessed with good health, has many offspring, is cheap in sustenance and is full of wealth.

In traditional Batak marriages, this fish is also given to the woman as a reward for giving food or is referred to as 'tudu-tudu sipanganon'. The goal, to get blessings from God Almighty.  

In every traditional Batak ceremony, this fish is cooked with a distinctive arsik. Now, the habit is slowly disappearing because the fish population is rare. Usually, Batak ihan is replaced with 'goldfish'.

Batak is the name of one of the tribes in Indonesia and is an ethnic group with the second largest population after the Javanese. The Batak tribe is a community group that mostly lives on the West Coast and East Coast of North Sumatra province.

The Batak tribe is divided into 6 sub-tribes or clumps, namely the Toba Batak, Angkola, Karo, Mandailing, Pakoak, and Simalungun tribes. (*nsb)