REPUBLIKA.CO.ID, JAKARTA -- Marine and Fisheries Minister Susi Pudjiastuti said the government is drafting a presidential regulation on illegal, unreported and unregulated (IUU) fishing expected to be issued shortly.
"Hopefully before President Joko Widodo's visit to the United States, we would have a Presidential Regulation on IUU fishing," Susi Pudjiastuti said here on Wednesday.
President Joko Widodo is to visit the United States to meet with President Barack Obama in the last week of October 2015.
The presidential regulation, would give greater authority to the IUU Fishing task force formed by the marine and fisheries minister.
Susi said the Task Force would have the authority in cooperation with other forces like the navy and the Sea Security Agency (Bakamla) to take action against IUU fishing perpetrators.
For that purpose the Navy should be given more large ships to deal with illegal fishing in Indonesian waters, she said.
"The Navy should be given 6-8 more large ships," the minister said.
The Navy and the Sea and Air Police should also have larger air fleet for sea patrol and control, she added.
Intensive patrols are needed as the country has thousands of small illegal seaports, she said.