REPUBLIKA.CO.ID, JAKARTA -- The Indonesian government has, since October 2014, sunk 151 foreign ships caught conducting illegal fishing practices in the country's waters, Minister of Marine and Fishery Susi Pudjiastuti stated here on Monday.
The ships involved in illegal, unregulated and unreported (IUU) fishing that were sunk comprised 50 ships from Vietnam, 43 from the Philippines, 21 from Thailand, 20 from Malaysia, two from Papua New Guinea, and one from China, the minister revealed at a press conference.
The government has also sunk 14 Indonesian-flagged ships involved in IUU fishing.
"The government is combating all forms of crime in the Indonesian waters," Minister Pudjiastuti remarked.
This is to serve as a deterrent to marine poachers not only in Indonesia, which is combating illegal fishing, but also in neighboring Thailand, the minister affirmed.
Some vessels had been caught along the waters in Phuket, Thailand, sometime ago.
Pudjiastuti said the government will intensify its cooperation with other countries in combating illegal fishing.
The ministry is currently investigating a money circulation racket linked to the funds for conducting illegal fishing practices.
About two-third of Indonesia's territory comprises water, and the government is aware that monitoring such a vast area is not an easy task.
However, one of the key factors in combating illegal fishing in the region is by involving local fishermen, Commander of Kupang naval base Lantamal VII Brigadier General TNI (Mar) Siswoyo Hari Santoso noted.
The local fishermen who are always out at sea were similar to scouts in tracking any illegal fishing activities conducted by foreign-flagged ships in the local waters, Santoso remarked earlier on Thursday (Feb. 18).
"However, the role of fishermen is to only report to the security officers. They should not take any further steps as it could jeopardize them," Santoso affirmed.
Indonesia has been taking important steps in line with the trend of sustainable fisheries management policies, including the efforts to fight IUU fishing practices.
The country's marine and fisheries policy is dedicated to eradicating poverty, providing jobs, and enhancing national growth in a sustainable manner for the welfare of all people.
In light of this, the government, through the Maritime Affairs and Fisheries Ministry, is drawing up a national action plan to address illegal fishing.
Therefore, stringent measures must be adopted by the government, such as detonating and sinking foreign fishing vessels found trespassing and poaching in Indonesian waters.
"IUU fishing is a serious matter and is not only the enemy of Indonesia but also the world. Therefore, all countries agree that it should be eradicated completely," Minister Pudjiastuti emphasized.
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