"The entire world is now waking up (to the dangers of illegal fishing). The FAO has been supporting us at the meetings to ink agreements to fight illegal fishing," Minister Susi said.
Jakarta (ANTARA News) - The world has become increasingly aware of the dangers of illegal fishing, and Indonesia has also implemented several policies to eradicate it, according to Minister of Maritime Affairs and Fisheries Susi Pudjiastuti.

"The entire world is now waking up (to the dangers of illegal fishing). The FAO has been supporting us at the meetings to ink agreements to fight illegal fishing," Minister Susi noted in a written statement received on Thursday.

The minister said Indonesia is a great nation that is among the three major democracies having the largest Muslim population, ranking among the top five most populous nations, and having the worlds second-largest maritime territory.

The minister believes that these three qualities make the republic a great nation.

"We need to only reflect on these three points, though we need to put in constant efforts," she said.

Susi also noted that the Ministry of Maritime Affairs and Fisheries is the governments priority partly since President Joko Widodo has envisioned making the sea as the future of the nation and transforming Indonesia into a global maritime axis.

"This vision is the focal point for interaction with all global online social groups," she emphasized.

Earlier, Minister Susi had stated that the moratorium on fishing in areas managed by Indonesia applied to ex-foreign vessels, with a capacity of above 30 gross tonnage, had been effective in reducing illegal fishing.

Minister Susi made the remarks during a discussion on "Combating IUU Fishing" organized by the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) held on the sidelines of the 32nd Assembly Session of the FAO Committee of Fisheries at the FAO Headquarters in Rome on Thursday (July 14).

Minister Susi pointed out that the Indonesian governments policies were able to reduce the number of unlicensed fishing vessels and illegal fishing practices that contributed positively to increasing the nations fish catch supply and boosting production in the fisheries sector.

The Ministry of Maritime Affairs and Fisheries has also vowed to sink ships found conducting illegal fishing in Natuna, Riau Islands, on August 17.

Susi noted that the Ministry of Maritime Affairs and Fisheries was also making preparations to sink the ships after Lebaran, though no details have emerged on which vessels would be sunk.(*)

Editor: Heru Purwanto
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