FIFTEEN FILIPINO FISHERMEN DEPORTED FOR POACHING

Tahuna, N Sulawesi Province, June 15 (ANTARA) - Fifteen Filipino fishermen were deported to their country for poaching and entering Indonesian waters illegally, a local official said.
The 15 Philippine nationals were illegally fishing in Indonesian waters without the required documents, Tahuna Immigration Office Head Youce Sumangkut said here on Sunday as quoted by his staff member, Endi Darmono.

They were earlier detained after stranded and conducted illegal fishing in North Sulawesi's sea, he said. Indonesian Naval and Police personnel had arrested the Filipinos in Nusa Utara Islands area, he said.

Indonesia's security personnel routinely patrol the Nusa Utara waters on Siau Tagulandang Biaro (Sitaro) Islands, Sangihe, and Talaud Islands Districts, he said.

Meanwhile, in May 2009, a Philippine vessel MV Ernielyn-5 was nabbed for poaching in the Halmahera Sea, North Maluku.

Spokesman for the Eastern Fleet Command Lt Col Toni Syaiful said in Ambon the vessel was impounded at the naval base in Ambon, Maluku, for further investigation.

He said MV Ernilyn-5 was intercepted and caught by Indonesian warship KRI Alkura-830.

After being caught the ship's skipper, of Philippine nationality, failed to produce the necessary legal papers.

The 7-gross ton vessel with a crew of 19, all Filipinos, had a catch of 10 large tuna fishes in its hold.

KRI Alkura-830 is a fast patrol boat under the command of Captain Arie Krisdiyanto.

The Indonesian Navy earlier also in May 2009 captured a Malaysian-registered fishing boat in Iyu Kecil waters in Karimun district, Riau Islands province, for alleged poaching.

Indonesia is ready to sink foreign boats fishing illegally in the country's waters, Marine Resources and Fisheries Minister Freddy Numbery said in Jakarta recently.

The minister said firm action was needed to deter foreign boats from continuing illegal fishing in Indonesian waters.