REPUBLIKA.CO.ID, JAKARTA -- President Joko Widodo (Jokowi) will soon issue a presidential instruction (Inpres) to crackdown on illegal fishing activities in Indonesian waters, according to Marine Affairs and Fisheries Minister Susi Pudjiastuti.

"The president will soon issue the Inpres on the management of Illegal, Unreported, and Unregulated (IUU) fishing," Minister Pudjiastuti stated during a press conference at the Mina Bahari-I building of the Ministry of Marine Affairs and Fisheries here on Wednesday (14/1).

Pujiastuti admitted to having urged President Jokowi to issue the Inpres, so that Indonesia can boost its efforts to consistently safeguard its territorial waters.

She noted that with the issuance of the Inpres, the fight against illegal fishing could be carried out continuously.

According to her, the Inpres is expected to impact the prices and supply of fish at various markets in Indonesia.

She said some indicators showed that curbing illegal fishing had led to a significant increase in fish catch in numerous regions such as Muncar in East Java, Bali, and Aceh.

The minister has noted that illegal fishing by foreign vessels had depleted Indonesia's marine and fisheries resources, particularly in certain areas where fish stocks are now low.

To ensure that Indonesia does not run out of maritime and fisheries resources, she emphasized that this situation should not persist.

Referring to the sinking of foreign vessels found poaching fish in Indonesian waters, the minister clarified that it had nothing to do with legal violations and bilateral relations with other countries.

She affirmed that it constituted the implementation of the rights and obligations of a law-abiding country.

"This is not an issue between countries but one between a country and a thief infiltrating Indonesian sovereign waters," Pudjiastuti explained.

In the October-December 2014 period, the Indonesian government sank two foreign vessels found poaching fish in Indonesian waters.

Ikuti Whatsapp Channel Republika