REPUBLIKA.CO.ID, KUDUS -- The local fishermen can participate in monitoring illegal foreign fishing ships that operate in Indonesia's territorial waters, noted Secretary General of the Ministry of Marine Affairs and Fishery Sjarief Widjaja.

"The local fishermen are the eyes of the Indonesian government that supports the policy of the ministry to chase away foreign vessels from Indonesian territory," Sjarief noted here on Tuesday (23/12).

Sjarief visited Moro Beach traditional seaport in Purworejo of Demak District, Central Java, in place of Fishery and Maritime Minister Susi Pudjiastuti.

He affirmed that the local fishermen who detected foreign vessels trespassing into Indonesian territory can inform the minister or secretary general directly through a brief message text.

The secretary general said the efforts undertaken by the ministry including the sinking of illegal ships and other enforcement can have a deterrent effect on foreign illegal vessels.

The efforts have been undertaken in a bid to increase the total fish catch of local fishermen as the foreign fishing vessels will not operate in Indonesian territory.

He said the ministry has received information about eight foreign fishing vessels being confiscated in Ambon waters.

"Actually, many foreign vessels are confiscated every day because our monitoring effort is more modern and based on satellite imagery," Sjarief noted.

The satellite can detect foreign vessels in several areas. Thus, the Indonesian Military, Police, Indonesian Navy, and ministry officials can directly check those areas.

Sjarief stated that the institution believes that illegal fishing ships fled the Indonesian territory when the patrol team carried out reconnaissance of the areas.

"Principally, we do not want any foreign vessels operating in Indonesian territory," the secretary general remarked.

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