Control In Sea Intensified To Stamp Out Illegal Fishing

Tanjungpinang, Riau, Feb 28 (Antara) - The government will this year strengthen the fleet of patrol boats with seven new units to be operated by the Directorate General of Supervision of Marine and Fisheries Resources of the Marine and Fisheries Ministry. The seven new units will add to the 27 units of patrol boat already owned by the directorate general, Director of Supervision of Marine and Fisheries Resources Nasfri Adisyahmeta said here on Friday . The government will also provide 25 additional units of speed boat this year to make sea control more effective. The 25 new units will bring the number of speed boats owned by the directorate general to 100 units. "Speed boats are needed to strengthen control," Nasfri said. He said in 2014, the directorate general had only 60 operating days in the sea, but in 2015 control would be much more intensive as the operating days would be increased to 280 days. "We will make it as effective as possible," he added. The marine and fishery ministry will coordinate with other related agencies in carrying out control in the sea, he said. The ministry already renewed memorandum of understanding with the military in dealing with illegal fishing and in protecting the ecosystem in Indonesian waters, he said. "Coordination will also be made and strengthened with police, the State Intelligence Agency (BIN) , the Communications Ministry, the Attorney General Office and the Home Affairs Ministry," he added. The government program especially related to control and protection of marine and fisheries resources will need additional cost of Rp600 billion to Rp1.7 trillion in 2015. The government has adopted tough measure against illegal fishing by ordering the sinking of foreign fishing boats found illegally operating in Indonesian waters. The navy already burned and sank a number of foreign fishing boats since late last year under the new government. The government said the country suffered potential losses of hundreds of trillions of rupiah in stolen fishes every year. "Hopefully with the additional facilities and infrastructure and operating fund, control would be more effective to preserve the country's natural wealth in the sea," Nasfri said.