Susi's Breakthrough To Stamp Out Illegal Fishing

SUSI'S BREAKTHROUGH TO STAMP OUT ILLEGAL FISHING By Muhammad Razi Rahman/Alberth Saragih Jakarta, Nov 4 (Antara) - Barely a month after her installation Marine and Fisheries Minister Susi Pudjiastuti marked her step by announcing moratorium plan on license for large fishing vessels. Meanwhile, the operating licenses of large fishing vessels weighing more than 30 gross tons (GT) are suspended. "So far there are 207 fishing vessels having their operating license suspended. The decision is a reflection of strong commitment of the ministry to sanction vessels violating regulations such as illegal fishing and the use of foreign crewmen and illegal fishing gears," said Susi here. The ministry is also committed to transparency about marine and fishery data by using a log book system to keep data about ships operating in certain water territory open for access by the public. The ministry in cooperation with the navy and police set up a Task Force to monitor movements of ships in the sea to prevent illegal fishing. The task force is equipped with "Vessel Monitoring Systems" (VMS). The satellite-based VMS system uses equipment that could follow the movements of fishing and it would be effective in the drive to chase away illegal fishing vessels from the Indonesian waters, Susi said. "The ultimate goal is to preserve the sustainability of the country`s fishery resources for the welfare of the people," she said. The government has said that the country suffers a potential loss of hundreds of trillions of rupiahs a year in stolen fish. In 2013, the ministry recorded 229 cases of offense involving fishing vessels. In its attempt to effectively involve the people in its sea monitoring, the ministry launched a Community Based Watching System (Siswasmas). The program already has 2,195 community groups all over the country. "We hope to have feedback from the people as we are also open to the public," she said Currently, the ministry has 31 patrol boats including 10 units regularly operating in western Indonesian waters, 11 units in eastern Indonesia and the rest operating in both regions. Susi said she wanted the moratorium to be effective until the end of this year. She said she was aware the decision would hurt the operators of large fishing vessels "but it s decision that has to be made and is necessary." She said foreign fishing vessels still are operating in Indonesian waters such as in Maluku and Sumatra waters and in the Indian Ocean. "It is sad to see the fact. I want Indonesian business operators to be more self supporting. "You want to control you owns sea, but why you allow others to exploit its riches," she said. Foreign fishing vessels have been found illegally operating in Indonesian waters . They include fishing vessels from neighboring countries of the regional grouping of ASEAN. The minister said in a bid to cope with the problem, she would invite ambassadors of a number of countries to discuss ways of putting an end to illegal fishing. "I want to talk from heart to heart with them," she said . Improving Coordination The Marine and Fishery Ministry has improved coordination with the security agencies to monitor any illegal fishing which has caused potential losses to the state. "This is our second cooperation ," Susi said after a meeting with the head of the police chief detective Comr. Gen. Suhardi Alius in her office here on Monday. The first such cooperation agreement made by the ministry when Susi met with the Navy Chief of Staff Admiral Marsetio earlier in her office. She said it is important for the ministry to ask for support from the security agencies and form a task force to watch over the country`s vast water territory. The task force is urgent to raid suspicious ships especially there are still large fishing vessels operating in the sea against the regulation, she said. She said the ministry wants to have joint operations with police and the navy, adding it is regrettable foreign fishing vessels are still operating in Indonesian waters. As a result, countries like Thailand with much smaller water territory could exports fish and other marine commodities in value much larger than Indonesia. Admiral Marsetio, after the meeting with the minister, said the navy has recorded all problems and challenges to be faced in the marine and fisheries sector. "We take inventory of any form of cooperation that could be implemented to cope with any problem especially illegal fishing," he said. The inventory is important on which legal concrete action could be taken, he said, adding, especially as there are 11 stakeholders each with own regulations related to the same sector. He said in six months after the Marine Law is announced, there should be implementing regulations by the government related to the Sea Security Agency (Bakamla). Bakamla is similar to the US Coast Guard , the only institution in charge of sea monitoring task in the country. "Later there would be only one unit (agency)," Marsetio said, adding the operational of Bakamla would be more efficient in cost. Police chief detective Suhardi Alius said there are methods practiced by foreign fishing vessels to cover their illegal operations in the Indonesian waters such as by flying Indonesian flag . He said stronger coordination between the marine and fisheries ministry and the security agencies is expected to be effective in preventing illegal fishing in the country`s waters.