We need to emphasize that fighting illegal fishing in any circumstances is not solely the responsibility of one country
Jakarta (ANTARA) - Marine Affairs and Fisheries Minister Sakti Wahyu Trenggono urged member countries of the Regional Plan of Action to Combat Illegal, Unreported, and Unregulated Fishing (RPOA-IUU) to bolster cooperation in eradicating illegal fishing.

"We need to emphasize that fighting illegal fishing in any circumstances is not solely the responsibility of one country," Trenggono noted in a press release here on Wednesday.

The minister pressed for strengthening cooperation among nations as an essential aspect in eradicating Illegal, Unreported, and Unregulated (IUU) fishing.

In addition, the minister noted that illegal fishing is likely to increase amid the global COVID-19 pandemic.

This is based on the UN Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) findings that indicated the pandemic's impact in weakening the implementation of Monitoring, Control and Surveillance (MCS) in countries.

Indonesia's marine affairs and fisheries ministry which has, since long, actively worked to eradicate illegal fishing in the archipelago's territorial waters, received support from regional partners in the RPOA-IUU.

The RPOA-IUU is a ministerial initiative of 11 countries: Australia, Brunei Darussalam, Cambodia, Timor Leste, Indonesia, Malaysia, Papua New Guinea, the Philippines, Singapore, Thailand, and Vietnam.

The ministry's acting Director-General of Marine Resources and Fisheries Monitoring Antam Novambar believes it is vital for Indonesia and other RPOA-IUU member countries to strengthen the RPOA-IUU as part of the diplomatic efforts to eradicate illegal fishing.

Novambar pointed out that various dynamics, modus operandi, and networks involved in the practice of illegal fishing had continued to evolve, thereby necessitating attention from member countries.

The ministry also supports the strengthening of supervision and law enforcement with the application of a diplomatic approach through cooperation and synergy between member countries, according to Novambar.

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Translator: M Razi, Raka Adji
Editor: Sri Haryati
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