The policy of the present government did show a deterrent effect . The number of foreign fishing boats operating illegally in Indonesian water had declined significantly lately.
Jakarta (ANTARA News) - A resolute step was again shown by the Indonesian government against foreign fishing boats caught illegally operating in the countrys waters.

Thirty one fishing boats sank after being exploded in separate areas at the same time in the country early this week.

The 31 boats brought the number to 152 units of fishing boats sunk by the government for illegal operation in the countrys waters since Oct. 2014.

The firm steps is expected to serve as a deterrent for foreign fishing boats not to cross the border into the Indonesian waters.

For years in the past Indonesian waters had become almost a free fishing ground for all foreign fishing boats.

The government said the country suffered a potential loss of hundreds of trillions of rupiah a year in stolen fishes.

The new government with its Marine and Fisheries Minister Susi Pudjiastuti, however, shocked the world especially neighboring countries when for the first time exploded a number of fishing boats and were left sinking in the sea.

The measure was to show that the government was serious in its warning that it is no longer safe for fishing illegally in Indonesian waters.

Sinking fishing boats caught operating illegally in Indonesian water territory was the first major policy of the woman minister.

A number of fishing boats were exploded and were left to sink in the sea in October 2014 only days after the present government effectively took over power.

Many doubted that the government was serious with its step, saying the new minister was only bluffing.

Weak law enforcement was partly responsible for the rampant illegal fishing in the country.

The law authorities were easily bribed. Court generally punished suspects in illegal fishing only with a fine and then let them go.

"If the punishment only with a fine of hundreds of millions of rupiahs it is too lenient for a foreign fishing boat. Therefore, we must be firm in our measure by sinking them," Coordinating Minister for Maritime Affairs and Resources Rizal Ramli said.

Rizal Ramli lauded the series of controversial measures Minister Susi Pudjiastuti has taken.

"Ms Susi has taken good steps though controversial," he said.

He said sinking fishing boats found illegally fishing in Indonesian waters was an effective step to deter illegal fishing.

Though dilemmatic, the measure is needed as a shock therapy, he added.

If the boats were offered in an open auction, as had been the practice in previous years, the old owners would most likely be the winners and regain their boats, Rizal Ramli said.

The policy of the present government did show a deterrent effect . The number of foreign fishing boats operating illegally in Indonesian water had declined significantly lately.

"In the past the sea far off coasts looked like a fairground at night bright with lamps of foreign fishing boats, busy catching fishes.

"Now there was almost no such scene in the sea," a district official in Riau Islands said.

The boats destroyed and left to sink in the sea by the government included 50 units of Vietnam, 43 units of the Philippines , 21 units of Thailand, 20 units of Malaysia, 2 units of Papua New Guinea, one unit of China and 14 units flying Indonesian flag.

Susi said the government would not relax its policy against illegal fishing.

The minister has explained her policy to foreign government representatives in Jakarta and they promised cooperation.

"The government is set to stamp out all types of criminality in the seas to contribute to the countrys national security," she said.

She said other countries such as Thailand also are more aggressive in driving foreign fishing boats from their water.

A number of foreign fishing boats were caught illegally operating off Phuket recently, she cited.

The government , therefore, should not show laxity in the efforts to eradicate illegal fishing, she added.

The government also seeks cooperation with other countries especially neighboring nations to put an end to illegal fishing, she said.

She said the country is now better equipped in its efforts to free its seas from illegal fishing.

Susi said now the position of all ships in the sea could be detected not only internally such as INDESCO but also through satellites of other countries having cooperation with Indonesia.

The Infrastructure Development for Space Oceanography (INDESO), a satellite based oceanographic infrastructure, has been completed and is ready for full operation to monitor the vast Indoensian water territory.

The project is built in cooperation with the French government, the first technological innovation in Indonesia adopting oceanographic operational system.

Susi said sea observation infrastructure is built to strengthen Indonesian position as a maritime country in managing marine resources with sustainable system.

INDESO is a program designed by the government to monitor Indonesian waters including its biochemical and ecosystem.

Susi said the sinking of a number of fishing boats was part of the government commitment to eliminate illegal fishing.

The sinking of 31 boats last week in five separate areas was directly under the command of the minister through live streaming from he office at the Marine and Fisheries Ministry in Jakarta.

The sinking took place in the sea off Pontianak, West Kalimantan for 8 units of boats all of Vietnam, in Riau Islands 10 units including 7 units of Malaysia and 3 units of Vietnam, in Bitung , North Sulawesi, for 10 units including 6 units of the Philippines and 4 of Indonesia; in Tahuna, North Sulawesi for one unit of the Philippines and in Belawan, North Sumatra a Malaysian boat and a Belize boat

The total number of 152 units of boats exploded and left sinking since October 2014 included 50 Vietnamese boat, 43 Philippine boats,21 Thai boats, 20 Malaysian boats, two Papua New Guinean boats, a Chinese boat, a Belize boat and 14 units of boats flying Indonesian flag.(*)

Reporter: Ahmad Wijaya/A.Saragih
Editor: Heru Purwanto
Copyright © ANTARA 2016