"We must be strict in our rule enforcement. Do not let the officers at sea conduct overlapping inspections on our fishermen. Do not add burden to them, as they are already pressured with the price of diesel fuel," Moeldoko stated at the Coordination Meeting for Enforcement regarding Fishing Vessels at Sea, as stated in a press release received here, Wednesday.
The coordination meeting was attended by Indonesian Navy Chief of Staff, Admiral Yudo Margono, Head of the Maritime Security Agency (Bakamla) Vice Admiral Aan Kurnia, Director General of Capture Fisheries of the Ministry of Maritime Affairs and Fisheries (KKP) Muhammad Zaini, and Director General of Marine and Fishery Resources Supervision of the KKP Rear Admiral Adin Nurawaluddin.
This coordination meeting was a follow-up to the Front Fishermen United's hearing in July 2022 during which fishermen expressed their grievances regarding overlapping inspections by ministries and agencies at sea and incidents of several foreign fishing vessels entering Indonesian waters.
Moeldoko stated that in order to build synergies between ministries and agencies at sea, an integrated information system was deemed necessary to connect all stakeholders. Thus, the prosecution of fishing vessels can be handled aptly and measurably as well as to protect natural resources from foreign fishermen.
The KSP chief reminded that fishermen were the main stakeholders in a marine and fisheries policy, so a concrete policy and a sound coordination pattern were deemed necessary to realize fishermen's welfare and sovereignty.
"Let us help fishermen because they are important in the marine and fisheries sector. Imagine if they stop fishing and depend on social security for their lifetime, then this will be a burden on the state," Moeldoko remarked.
Meanwhile, Director General of Marine and Fishery Resources Supervision of the KKP, Rear Admiral Adin Nurawaluddin, stated that a Salmon Application (Track and Monitor Application System) was currently being readied for monitoring fishing vessels at sea.
"Through this application, inspections of fishing vessels will be recorded online and integrated to all officers. The data of which vessel is inspected by whom will be available, Nurawaluddin added.
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Translator: Rangga Pandu A J, Resinta S
Editor: Sri Haryati
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