Six of the vessels, which were sunk to coincide with the celebration of the 71st anniversary of Indonesia's independence, were confiscated for poaching in the waters of North Kalimantan. They were sunk simultaneously with 60 others seized over the past year.
North Kalimantan Governor Udin Hianggio witnessed the sinking of the six vessels at a naval base in the Amal coastal area of Tarakan City on Thursday.
The governor expressed support to the steps taken by the government, through the Maritime Affairs and Fisheries Ministry, to sink illegal fishing boats found poaching in Indonesias territorial waters.
"I truly laud the governments actions to sink foreign ships caught poaching in the Indonesian waters," he emphasized.
The fishing vessels, which were sunk, came from the Philippines and Malaysia and had been seized several months ago.
Editor: Ade P Marboen
Copyright © ANTARA 2016
