IUU fishing respects neither national boundaries nor international attempts to manage fishing in the high seas, and is a serious global problem that contributes to overfishing, creates unfair competition, and impedes sustainable fisheries.
Therefore, Marine Affairs and Fisheries Minister Susi Pudjiastuti said Indonesias strict encouragement for eradicating such a criminal act should be understandable.
"Illegal, unreported and unregulated fishing is a serious matter and not only is the enemy of Indonesia but also the world. Therefore, all countries agree that it should be eradicated completely," Susi said on Friday.
After attending a coordination meeting at the Agency for Assessment and Application of Technology (BPPT), the minister pointed out that many countries, including Indonesia, Thailand, and the Philippines have become victims of illegal fishing activities.
Therefore, harsh measures must be adopted by the government, such as detonating and sinking foreign fishing vessels trespassing and poaching Indonesian waters, she said.
"Our harsh measures against foreign illegal fishing vessels have received tremendous appreciation from many foreign countries," the minister stated.
The North Sumatra provincial police detonated and sank a foreign fishing vessel bearing the Malaysian flag with the hull number PKFA 7738 in Belawan's waters on Thursday.
The drowning action against the illegal fishing vessel was led by North Sumatra Police Chief Insp. General Eko Hadi Sutedjo and witnessed by officials from the fisheries affairs and maritime office.
According to the provincial police chief, the sinking of the foreign vessel was a follow up to the program implemented by President Jokowi's government.
Such a decisive action is expected to act as a deterrent for foreign fishermen trying to steal fish from Indonesian waters, he stated, adding that the foreign fishing vessel was manned by a crew of Myanmar nationals.
"We have examined the evidence and conducted an investigation. After getting a permit from the court, we will detonate and sink the vessel today," Sutedjo pointed out.
On December 21, the Indonesian Navy (TNI AL) had sunk two foreign fishing vessels for poaching in Indonesian waters.
The navy had also sunk two fishing vessels flying the Vietnamese flag on December 5, 2014 in the waters off the Anambas Island in the Riau Islands province.
The government of President Joko "Jokowi" Widodo is committed to taking the strongest possible action against foreign illegal fishing vessels, warning that Indonesia will not hesitate to even sink them if necessary.
The Marine Affairs and Fisheries Minister further noted that the perpetrators of illegal fishing are certainly not liking the extreme steps being taken by Indonesia, but according to her, the regulation to safeguard a countrys territorial sovereignty is the right of all nations.
Susi confirmed that the Ministry had issued a vessel moratorium policy under Regulation No.56/PERMEN-KP/2014 about "Captured Fishery Business Permit Temporary Halt" in the Indonesian Fishery Management Area.
Besides, she said transshipment prohibition has also been regulated under the Marine and Fisheries Minister Regulation No. 57/PERMEN- KP/2014 on the Captured Fishery Business in the Indonesia Fishery Management Area.
The marine and fisheries minister pointed out that the vessel moratorium and transshipment prohibition aims to boost fish supply in the country.
"In accordance with a presidential instruction, I have to focus on the eradication of illegal fishing. If we eradicate IUU fishing, we will be honored and recognized by the world," Susi remarked.
She added that said she has asked President Joko Widodo to issue a presidential instruction, similar to the one issued by the United States.
Susi explained that the United States, under the leadership of President Barack Obama, has issued a presidential instruction to wage a war against any illegal, unreported and unregulated (IUU) fishing practices.
With the help of such a presidential instruction, the fight against illegal fishing can be ongoing.
"Such an instruction will ensure that we have good security measures protecting our marine resources and that Indonesia has complete authority over its waters. It will also guarantee firmer and higher protection," she stated.
The minister further noted that illegal fishing by foreign vessels has depleted Indonesias marine and fisheries resources, particularly in certain areas where the fishing stock is currently low.
"To ensure that Indonesia does not exhaust its maritime and fisheries resources, as has happened in the Middle Eastern waters, we must make certain that this situation does not persist," she emphasized.
In the meantime, the Coordinating Minister of Maritime, Indroyono Soesilo, said here on Friday that the Indonesian Navy is set to provide the Maritime Security Agency (Bakamla) with ten ships as initial assets to help eradicate IUU fishing.
"The Indonesian Navy will loan ten ships as initial assets to preserve maritime security and safety soon," Soesilo said, adding that the Bakamla came into operation following the President Decree No 178/2014, issued to deal with illegal poaching.
"Bakamla has been recently established. We want to enhance the system information that has integrated command control. Later on, the information which is collected will be directed to Bakamla," Indroyono stated.
The Chief of Bakamla, Vice Admiral Desi Albert Mamahit said several related parties have proposed loaning some assets to help in the anti-illegal fishing effort.
"The Navy will grant ten ships, the Fisheries and Maritime Ministry will loan three to five vessels and the Maritime Coordinating Ministry intends to send four vessels. We hope that in the next five years we have about 50 to 60 ships," Mamahit said.
According to Mamahit, Bakamla itself only had three ships till date. However, the institution has gotten assistance in terms of ships from the Waters Police, Navy and other institutions.
"During the next two weeks, we will coordinate for 30 ships to be operated at several locations, which are prone to illegal fishing, including in the Batam, Manado and Ambon waters," Mamahit revealed.
Mamahit said the agency will coordinate with the Navy, Waters Police and Customs Directorate General to eradicate illegal fishing.
(O001/INE/o001)
EDITED BY INE
(O001/KR-BSR/O001)
Reporter: Otniel Tamindael
Editor: Jafar M Sidik
Copyright © ANTARA 2015
