Anyer – A Tough Life: Banten, West Java

Many Indonesians are told during their childhood that to be Indonesian is lucky. This is because Indonesia is a country blessed with abundant natural resources, both on the ground and deep under the sea.

As an archipelago with about 17,000 islands, one would expect the maritime sector to be well developed. As time has passed, however, there does not seem to have been a significant improvement in this part of the economy.

The everyday lives of people in Anyer, in Banten province on Java’s west coast, illustrate how tough it can be for a fishing community. Soaring fuel prices often force the fishermen to stay at home because they cannot afford to set sail. Instead, they do whatever they can to survive.

— Text and photos by J. Adiguna