Pengambengan Port is Bali’s largest and most important commercial fishing port, acting as the central hub for fish production, distribution and the fish processing industry throughout the region. Pengambengan’s iconic boats are known locally as Perahu Slerek or Kapal Slerek. These wooden ships are not only the economic engine of the region, but are also sailing works of art with a fascinating cultural history.
The most unique feature of the Slerek boats is that they always operate in pairs (like a married couple). they sail together and each have a very specific task during the catch:
Kapal Suami: This is the boat where the captain is at the helm and this boat is responsible for tracking down the schools of fish and setting the gigantic nets.
Kapal Istri: This boat often has a slightly wider, rounder hull and the job of this boat is to retrieve the net together with the other boat and store the entire catch on board.
Although located in Bali, the boats are not originally located. The Slerek boat is a maritime metamorphosis in which the boat building art and culture of three Indonesian population groups come together: the Madurese, the Buginese (from Sulawesi) and the local Balinese. Around 1980, these boats came to Pengambengan from Muncar (East Java) when the fish canneries were opened there.
The boats are specially designed and built with a wide, sturdy hull to brave the rough waves of the Bali Strait (between Bali and Java). Their main goal is to hunt Lemuru, a local sardine species that swims en masse in this strait and forms the basis for the local fishing industry, there are also factories around the dock with fish processing plants and for the canning of fish oil and sardines.
There are actually two harbours in this area, the one of Pengambengan which is officially called “Pelabuhan Perikanan Nusantara Pengambengan” is a massive, industrialized commercial fishing hub and the one in Perancak.
Perancak harbour
The other harbour, the one of Perancak, the Perancak River mouth, acts as a quiet and charming traditional mooring ground for local fishermen. In this area there are warungs and restaurants everywhere on the side of the water, so it has become a popular area with the local people who come to watch when the boats sail out and to have some ikan bakar.
Warung Ikan Bakar Pesisir is one of the many ikan bakar warungs where you can have a nice dinner, ikan bakar and shrimps and it was all excellent and for a local price. The warung is located on the harbour and gives a nice view of the harbour where the coloured fishing boats are moored that usually sail out in the afternoon, early evening to go fishing.
Rundung #Megae 