RI MUST ASSERT SOVEREIGNTY OVER ITS WATERS AT WOC : NGO

Jakarta, May 5 (ANTARA) - Indonesia needs to take the opportunity at the World Ocean Conference (WOC) in Manado, North Sulawesi, to assert its sovereignty over its territorial waters to the international community, a non-governmental organization (NGO) said.

"As the host country for WOC, Indonesia is in a strong position to show its sovereignty over its territorial waters, especially to discourage illegal fishing by foreign fishermen in Indonesian waters," Indonesian Forum for Environment (Walhi) Director Berry Nahdian said here on Tuesday.

Berry Nahdian said Indonesia should urge developed countries participating in WOC to give their contribution to ensure safety of marine territory and the people living in coastal areas.

According to him, about two to four million tons of fish are stolen every year from Indonesian waters by foreign fishermen.

Based on the fact, he said the government at the WOC should boldly express its opinion about the eradication of illegal fishing at Indonesian waters.

The Walhi director said the eradication of illegal fishing at Indonesian waters was part of an effort to improve the welfare of traditional fishermen and the people living at coastal areas.

However, Nahdian deplored that the topic of illegal fishing at Indonesian waters was not in the agenda of WOC in Manado from May 11-15, 2009.

"Indonesia should actually take the opportunity from the WOC forum in Manado to offer its concept on the safety and the welfare of traditional fishermen at the coastal areas," he said.

Meanwhile, coordinator of People Coalition for Fisheries Justice Riza Damanik said the developed countries had yet to have a good will to protect traditional fishermen.

Damanik said illegal fishing committed by countries in Southeast Asia such as Malaysia, the Philippines, and Thailand at Indonesian water was getting out of hands.

But maritime observer at Indonesian Institute of Sciences (LIPI) Masyuri Imrom said the WOC in Manado would not be a right forum in which the problem of illegal fishing could be solved.

"Illegal fishing has something to do with the relation among a number of southeast Asian countries and thus it should be discussed in regional forum," Masyuri Imron said.


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