REPUBLIKA.CO.ID, JAKARTA -- Indonesia's Minister of Fisheries and Marine Resources, Susi Pudjiastuti, said here on Wednesday that she was awaiting approval to ban foreign fishing operations in the country.

She said foreign companies would only be allowed to operate in the fish processing industry while the fish catching industry will be reserved exclusively for Indonesian fishermen.

"So far, 40 percent of fish catching operations in the Indonesian waters are in the western region and the rest in the eastern region," she said after meeting with President Joko Widodo.

Regarding sanctions against illegal fishing operators, the minister admitted that such punitive steps were not being taken, and it was indeed an issue that continued to rankle, she said.

"Some regulations do not come with penalties as yet. While several bans are provided for in ministerial regulations, sanctions were not being imposed as yet but it will happen," she said.

Regarding foreign boats left idle in Indonesian waters, the minister advised to ignore these.

"Foreign boats' crews also comprise mainly foreigners, and only about 10 percent of the crew were locals," she said.

So, if foreign boats were being left abandoned in the Indonesian waters, "we may just ignore them," she said.

"We should actually demand to know if they have paid their taxes. What kind of compensation have they paid? They have stolen our diesel and also our fish, so why should we care about them?" she said.

Regarding the supply of fish in the country, Minister Susi said fish stocks in the local markets have risen by 240 percent. Exports of general fish have plunged while those of tuna rose by 80 percent, she said.

Ikuti Whatsapp Channel Republika