REPUBLIKA.CO.ID, JAKARTA -- Indonesia's strategic role as one of the world's leading fishery producers is being threatened by illegal fishing activities, according to Marine Affairs and Fisheries Minister Susi Pudjiastuti.

"Indonesia's marine strategic role as the world's largest supplier of fish products is being increasingly threatened due to rampant Illegal, Unreported and Unregulated (IUU) fishing activities," Susi noted in a written statement here on Thursday.

She pointed out that destructive illegal fishing activities had reduced the fish population in Indonesian waters and has affected the catch of local traditional fishermen.

According to her, the declining fish population in Indonesian waters has made fish catching even more difficult for the traditional fishermen, and they are now compelled to use fishing tools that are not environment-friendly.

"Traditional fishermen, who were originally good, became bad because they found it increasingly difficult to support their livelihood, and they were forced to use fishing tools that were not environmentally friendly," the minister remarked.

She also pointed out that the use of such fishing tools frequently created horizontal conflicts among traditional fishermen in numerous regions in the country.

However, she stated that the government, through the Ministry of Marine Affairs and Fisheries, has issued numerous regulations on the sustainable management of marine and fisheries resources.

The marine affairs and fisheries minister remarked that the government has initiated the fight against illegal fishing through a moratorium and a ban on transshipment to preserve its fishery resources.

"What the government has done is correct and is the only path to sustainable fisheries, which will be coupled with good-quality control and traceability of the origin of production," Susi affirmed.

The minister stated that on February 2-6, 2015, the Ministry of Marine Affairs and Fisheries is conducting a public seminar in Jakarta with the European Union Commission to discuss the rules pertaining to the import of fishery products.

Susi noted that although her policies had drawn strong criticism, she would continue to maintain and implement them in a bid to preserve the marine and fisheries resources in Indonesian waters.

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