"This years increase in PNBP from the marine and fisheries sector is outstanding and is expected to soar to above Rp300 billion," the minister stated at a press conference here on Tuesday.
According to Susi, during this period, the PNBP from the marine and fisheries sector had never reached Rp270 billion.
Susi also pointed out that the task to collect levies imposed on fishery products for fishing vessels below 30 gross tonnage (GT) was handed over to the provinces, so the proceeds were not received by the central government.
"Moreover, the report on no increase in PNBP was not true. Indeed, in 2015, they fell drastically as we did not collect them for that year," she said.
This happened as the KKP Ministry had just released subsidies, which for several decades, were offered to ships over 30 GT in the form of subsidized fuel oil reaching 1.2 million kiloliters.
Earlier, during the House of Representatives Budget Committee meeting held on July 14, 2016, several factions had questioned the realization of PNBP of the KKP in the first half of 2016 that turned out to be far below the target.
Previously, the Peoples Coalition for Fishery Justice (Kiara) had urged the KKP to issue a policy that can improve the business climate to boost the fisheries sector in the country.
"Kiara urged the KKP to improve the business climate as part of the nations efforts to improve the performance of fishery regulations," Secretary General of Kiara Abdul Halim remarked here, Tuesday (Aug. 16).
According to Halim, the performance of fishery regulations can be improved by offering greater transparency and ease in the licensing process for fishing vessels to conduct activities in Indonesian waters, among others.
He explained that the calculation of prices and the payment method should ensure purchasing fishery products remains easy and fair and that maritime law enforcement remains efficient.
"Thus, the realization of PNBP from fisheries would be in line with the efforts to improve the welfare of traditional fishermen or small-scale fish farmers, fisherwomen, and crews," he affirmed.
The Kiara secretary general also wants the government to make 2017 the year for bringing about improvements and boosting the nations fisheries sector.(*)
Editor: Heru Purwanto
Copyright © ANTARA 2016
