REPUBLIKA.CO.ID, JAKARTA -- Minister of Marine Affairs and Fisheries Susi Pudjiastuti planned to form an internal Task Force of Switching of Fishing Gear to help fishermen switch their fishing gear to an environment-friendly one. She stated on Thursday that the task force will be formed without a rigid bureaucratic mechanism.

The task force consists of various elements, including the Directorate General of Marine and Fishery Resources Control, Directorate General of Capture Fisheries, Indonesian National Army Navy, Task Force 115, and also heads of regions. The task force is likely to be chaired by Vice Admiral (ret.) Widodo.

Previously, President Joko Widodo (Jokowi) has kept his promise to meet fishermen's representatives in Jakarta on Wednesday, namely the Chairman of the Alliance of Indonesian Fishermen Riyono and his Vice Chairman Suyoto, Chairman of the Mina Santosa Tegal village unit cooperative Hadi Santosa, and a ship captain, Rasmijan.

They were present along with the Head of Batang District Wihaji, Head of Tegal District Enthus Susmono, Mayor of Tegal Nursoleh, Head of Pati District Haryanto, and Head of Rembang District Abdul Hafidz. Widodo was accompanied by Pudjiastuti, Minister of State Secretary Pratikno, and Director General of Capture Fisheries of the Ministry of Marine Affairs and Fisheries Sjarief Widjaja.

The meeting took place, from Wednesday morning until noon, with a peaceful demonstration of thousands of fishermen from various regions in front of the Merdeka Palace in Jakarta. Widodo stated that the meeting resulted in a decision that the government would give fishermen the opportunity to switch from trawl to an eco-friendly fishing gear.

"The meeting concluded that fishermen will get more time to complete the process of switching from trawl to an environment-friendly fishing gear. There will be no time limit, and fishermen will not add ship," he remarked. 

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