Jakarta (ANTARA News) - The finance ministry has expressed readiness to assist in handling the assets of foreign fishing vessels found trespassing and poaching in Indonesian waters, Finance Minister Sri Mulyani stated.

"We will review the regulation on the handling of assets of foreign vessels detained for conducting illegal fishing in the Indonesian waters," Mulyani noted here on Thursday.

The Directorate General of State Assets Management has not handled the assets of foreign vessels detained for conducting illegal fishing.

The minister will evaluate the strategy of the Maritime Affairs and Fisheries Ministry and work on the president`s directives. As a result, the ships can be used further.

The minister also elaborated on how the strategy can directly contribute to improving economic activities by developing the fisheries sector.

"It is important to improve the economy in the fisheries sector," the minister stated.

President Joko Widodo (Jokowi) had earlier urged the Maritime Affairs and Fisheries Ministry to increase the production of the fishery industry.

"The ministry should focus on increasing the production of the fishery industry, particularly exports, as they have declined," Jokowi stated here on Wednesday.

The request has been put forth to the Maritime Affairs and Fisheries Minister Susi Pudjiastuti.

The president expressed support to the initiative to boost production of both catch fisheries and cultivation, in Indonesia.

Every minister in the working cabinet should have a policy for the interest of the nation.

The president affirmed that the policy of sinking foreign fishing boats caught poaching in the Indonesian waters was a law enforcement effort.

The sinking of vessels involved in illegal fishing is aimed at creating a deterrent effect. If illegal fishing was not handled aggressively, it would not have the desired effect.

(UU.A063/B/KR-BSR/O001)

Reporter: antara
Editor: Heru Purwanto
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