REPUBLIKA.CO.ID, TANJUNGPINANG -- Three fishing vessels flying Thai flag have been seen off Tambelan, regency of Bintan, Riau Islands, suspected of illegally fishing in the Indonesian waters.

"They have been operating there over the past week, but no measure yet taken against them," Head of the provincial Marine and Fishery Service Raja Ariza said on Friday, February 20.

Local fishermen complained but they were helpless as they could not chase away the foreign fishing vessels.

"The complaint of the Tambelan fishermen had been conveyed to the authorities including the marine and fisheries ministry," he said.

Raja Ariza said he did not know the type of trawls used by the foreign fishing vessels, but generally foreign fishing vessels use trawls and seine nets that would damage the ecosystem. "We will seek to find solution to this problem," he said, but gave no details.

Apparently Thai fishermen were not deterred by the tough action by the government against illegal fishing.

The authorities have exploded and sunk a number of foreign fishing vessels found illegally operating in Indonesian waters.

Since November 2014, the Indonesian navy has seized and sunk six foreign fishing vessels operating illegally in Indonesian waters. Recently two Thai fishing vessels were arrested off Natuna by the marine ans fisheries ministry. Raja Azra said the government has banned the use of trawls in fishing.

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