Jakarta, IO – Officers from the Directorate of Oceanic and Fisheries Resources Surveillance (PSDKP) of the Ministry of Maritime Affairs and Fisheries (KKP) arrested a Russia-flagged fishing vessel in the Arafura Sea, Maluku.
The ship bearing the name KM Run Zeng 03 was arrested while operating illegally in Arafura Sea waters on Sunday (19/5) afternoon.
The operation was led by the Acting Director General of PSDKP Pung Nugroho Saksono. “This ship has been the target of our operations since one month ago in the Arafura Sea,” said Nugroho, per CNN Indonesia, Wed (22/5).
Nugroho said the 870 GT vessel had 30 crew, 12 of them Indonesians. According to him, the results of interrogations revealed that the ship had been operating in Indonesian waters since January 12.
Fishermen in the area had complained about the presence of this ship because it had used prohibited fishing gear, namely a trawl nets, which caught 30 tons of fish indiscriminately.
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“The use of trawl nets has damaged the coral reefs. The ecological damage is far greater than the economic loss,” he said.
Minister of Maritime Affairs and Fisheries, Sakti Trenggono, has issued directive to maintain ecological sustainability so that future generation can also enjoy the abundant fish in Indonesian waters. (at)