Berkelong Tradition of the Coastal Fishing Communities (Study in the Village Mongkol, Belakang Padang District, Batam City)

Abstract

Berkelong tradition is a tradition which is carried by coastal fishing communities in catching fish every once year at the beginning of the year, they are January to February. Fish that caught also has high selling value, price range about IDR 150.000 to 250.000/kilo. The fish which caught in the Berkelong tradition is a species that known by fishermen communities as dingkis fish. Before doing this tradition, there are people who use semah or offerings. This tradition is always done in conjunction with the Lunar New Year celebrations in Chinese Calender. The study was conducted to analyze the data with qualitative methods and uses Snowball sampling. The sample consisted of village elders, community leaders and villagers Mongkol. The data is collected and then presented descriptively ie describing or telling the results of research with the logic narrative. This study is conducted in the village of Mongkol, Belakang Padang district of Batam city. The results reveal the profile of Berkelong tradition, ranging from tools and equipment, ordinances, and regulations. The study also revealed the existence of value in Berkelong tradition, including: role, solidarity, economic, and education values. In addition, Berkelong tradition also several function, they are: manifestation of a strong sense of solidarity, economic functions, and also education process. This study also reveals the local wisdom towards sustainability of social systems in Berkelong tradition, namely: the existence of local knowledge include: maintaining or preserving coral reefs, instill positive values in this tradition