According to Pudjiastuti, the president was urged to ratify the decree because illegal poaching of fish by foreign fishermen has been detrimental to the country.Kuta, Bali (ANTARA News) - The presidential decree on illegal, unreported and unregulated fishing will be ratified soon by President Joko Widodo, according to Minister of Maritime Affairs and Fisheries Susi Pudjiastuti.
"The draft has been completed. We only need his signature," she said here on Tuesday.
According to Pudjiastuti, the president was urged to ratify the decree because illegal poaching of fish by foreign fishermen has been detrimental to the country.
"This decree is an urgent requirement to deter perpetrators of the crime," the minister remarked.
The regulation is expected to help complete the legal proceedings related to illegal fishing activities.
Pudjiastuti further noted that the presidential decree will serve as the basis for the illegal fishing taskforce, formed by the Ministry of Maritime Affairs and Fisheries, to take action against perpetrators of the crime.
"This regulation is intended to allow the taskforce to take action against the criminals legally and formally. The Fisheries Act can be applied directly while capturing them. It is important that the legal processes do not stop in court," she emphasized.
Moreover, the ministry, along with other relevant agencies, has detained dozens of foreign vessels caught fishing in Indonesian territory.
Some of them were sunk directly to have a deterrent effect on foreign thieves.
More recently, the ministry, along with agencies concerned, impounded seven foreign boats caught fishing illegally in the waters of Natuna.
The sea territory of Natuna stretches from Natuna Islands to Lingga Islands in Riau province.(*)
Editor: Heru Purwanto
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