MMAF Nabs 6 Illegal Fishing Boats

Jakarta, April 22 (Antara) - The Ministry of Marine Affairs and Fisheries (MMAF) nabbed 6 foreign fishing boats over the weekend, according to Indra Sakti, the head of MMAF Statistic and Information Center here on Monday. He said the six foreign fishing boats were nabbed because they had illegally entered the Indonesian waters and committed the illegal fishing activity. Indra noted that the arrest of 6 illegal fishing boats showed that the commitment of the Ministry of Marine Affairs and Fisheries to fight against the illegal, unreported, and unregulated fishing activities or IUU Fishing was undoubted. He said it was the result of intensive and simultaneous monitoring operation in the eastern part and the western part of Indonesia. Meanwhile Marine Affairs and Fisheries Minister Sharif C. Sutardjo asserted that the IUU Fishing activity and the illegal presence of the foreign fishing boats were absolutely detrimental to Indonesia. "In addition to deserving the local fishermen, they are an authentic threat to the sustainability of the marine and fishery resource management in Indonesia," Sharif said. The minister noted that the illegal and destructive fishing must be considered as manifestations of the extraordinary crime as they significantly destroy the marine and fishery resource. "I wholeheartedly appreciate the performance conducted by the field authorities who once again has successfully arrested 3 Vietnamese-flagged boats in the west and another three Philippines-flagged boats in the east part of Indonesia," Sharif said. He added that this success is just another proof that the Indonesian waters is such a "bull`s-eye" of the region`s Illegal fishing. Sharif said that to optimize the eradication of IUU fishing, MMAF has cooperated with the local governments and the related parties, such as the Navy, the constabulary, and the Maritime Security Coordinating Board (IMSCB). Additionally, MMAF also work closely with the Attorney General in procuring the public prosecutors of the fishery criminal act. "We work closely with the Attorney General of Indonesia to establish the Fishery Court as well as to procure the Ad Hoc judges," he explained.