"I have asked the president to issue a presidential instruction, similar to the one in the United States, so that we can boost efforts to safeguard our waters consistently. This can be done if the president issues a presidential instruction," the minister said here on Monday.
She made the remarks while speaking at an event on the Reflection on Maritime and Fisheries Development 2014 and Outlook 2015 in Jakarta.
Pudjiastuti pointed out that in the United States, President Barack Obama issued a presidential instruction to wage a war against illegal, unreported and unregulated (IUU) fishing practices.
With the presence of such a presidential instruction, the fight against illegal fishing can be carried out continuously.
"Such an instruction will ensure that we have good security measures protecting our marine resources so that Indonesia can have complete authority over its waters. It will guarantee firmer and higher protection," she affirmed.
The minister further noted that illegal fishing by foreign vessels had depleted Indonesias marine and fisheries resources, particularly in certain areas where fish stock is now low.
To ensure that Indonesia does not run out of maritime and fisheries resources, as was experienced by the seas in the Middle Eastern waters, we must make certain that this situation does not persist, Pudjiastuti emphasized.
"Sea is our future. It should be able to earn us a living not just for the next five to ten years but for the next century or two," she remarked.
Referring to the sinking of foreign vessels found poaching fish in Indonesian waters, the minister said it had nothing to do with legal violations and bilateral relations with other countries.
"It constitutes the implementation of the rights and obligations of a law-abiding country. This is not an issue between countries but one between a country and a thief infiltrating Indonesian sovereign waters," Pudjiastuti explained.
In the October-December 2014 period, the Indonesian government sank two foreign vessels found poaching fish in Indonesia waters.
Moreover, over the last five years (2010-2014), the Marine Affairs and Fisheries Ministry investigated 15,600 local fishing boats and 383 foreign fishing vessels.
Of the investigated ships, the ministry found 142 domestic vessels and 365 foreign ones guilty of carrying out illegal fishing activities.
(Uu.A014/INE/KR-BSR/H-YH)
Editor: Priyambodo RH
Copyright © ANTARA 2015
