"The East Fleet operational territory is much wider than that of the West Fleet, therefore, I think it is necessary to make more effective operation against illegal fishing there," Ade Supandi said here on Friday.
Routine operation against illegal fishing is necessary to prevent foreign fishing vessels from entering the countrys sea territory, he added.
He said any foreign ships illegally entering the countrys sea territory should be detained and investigated legally.
He pledged to increase the number of patrol boats to facilitate the operations against illegal fishing.
Earlier the navy complained about shortage for sea patrols and President Joko Widodo promised that the fuel problem would be sorted out.
Ade Supandi said the navy would need 15-20 ships to go to the sea sea every day to carry out an effective patrol, "therefore, we need 40 units of patrol boat."
The navy has been ordered by the president to arrest, burn and sink foreign fishing vessels found illegally operating in the countrys sea territory.
(T.SYS/B/H-ASG/F001)
Editor: Aditia Maruli Radja
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