Jakarta, March, 28, 2013 (ANTARA) - The Ministry of Marine and Fisheries Affairs' (MMFA) monitoring boats have caught four Malaysian-flagged fishing vessels in the Exclusive Economic Zone of Indonesia (ZEEI) in the Riau Islands’ Natuna Waters. The arrest was undertaken by Hiu 003 Monitoring Vessel (MV) in their operation under the operational control with the Maritime Security Coordinating Board (Bakorkamla) on March 21, 2013. The first arrest featuring 3 (three) ships, namely KM. PAF 4116, KM. JHF 5433 T, and KM. JHF 4888 T. As for another ship, KM. JHF 1336 T, was detained by Hiu 001 MV on March 24, 2013, which was under the independent operation supervision of the marine resources and fisheries monitoring. Those four vessels were suspected of the illegal fishing using the prohibited fishing tool "the trawl". Additionally, those vessels didn't have the Fisheries Business License and the Fishing Permit issued by the Government of the Republic of Indonesia. The arrest is such an averment of the MMFA to continue the fight against the illegal fishing, in order to retain the preservation of marine resources and fisheries. This effort is continuously conducted by carrying out the intense monitoring patrol and providing severe sanctions against the perpetrators. "We always have to be stern and serious in enforcing the law, especially in terms of illegal fishing,” said the Director General of Marine Resources and Fisheries (PSDKP), Syahrin Abdurrahman.

Furthermore, Syahrin revealed, the next process of the Malaysian-flagged fishing vessels will be transferred to PSDKP's Unit in Batam for further processing. This is in accordance with the legislation in force, in particular, the Article 69 of Law No. 45 of 2009 concerning the Amendment to Law No. 31 of 2004 on Fisheries Affairs which states that fisheries patrol boats to stop, examine, take, and hold the ship alleged or suspected committing violations in the fishery management area of the Republic of Indonesia to the nearest port for further processing.

On another occasion, the Indonesian Minister of Marine and Fisheries Affairs, Sharif C. Sutardjo, in Jakarta, expressed the appreciation for the performance of the regulatory authorities in the field who have managed to capture 4 (four) Malaysian-flagged fishing vessels suspected of committing an offense in the fishery management area of the Republic of Indonesia. "The presence of the foreign fishing vessels that don't comply with the Indonesian regulations is very detrimental to our local fishermen as well as threatening the sustainability of the management of marine resources and fisheries in Indonesia," said Sharif.

Due to the lingering presence of the illegal fishing activities in the waters of Indonesia, the Directorate will continue to conduct surveillance, in order to achieve the welfare of Indonesian fishermen. To ensure the smooth and the growth of the fisheries productivity, one way to be taken is to continue to fight the illegal and destructive fishing.

For more information, please contact Indra Sakti, SE, MM, The Head of Data, Statistic and Information Center, The Ministry of Maritime and Fisheries Affairs. (Ph. 0818159705)

Editor: PR Wire
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