Jakarta, IO – The Maritime Affairs and Fisheries Ministry (KKP) captured a Philippines fishing vessel in the Sulawesi Sea for alleged illegal fishing activity which can potentially cause the state to lose up to Rp1.4 billion in revenue. This figure is based on the calculation of the total value of the captured fishes being transported to General Santos City, Philippines, in the past three years.
KKP’s oceanic and fisheries resources surveillance (PSDKP) station head in North Sulawesi, Bayu Y Suharto, said the agency succeeded in intercepting, inspecting and detaining the fishing boat using a fast patrol boat, per Katadata, Friday (22/3).
After the KKP personnel boarded the vessel, they found four Filipino crew members with illegal catches of around 2 tons of tuna. “The ship also entered Indonesia’s territorial waters without valid fish transportation permit documents. In fact, they used fake documents,” said Bayu. The ship and its crew have been detained pending judicial proceedings.
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This arrest is part of the government’s seriousness in protecting Indonesia’s rich maritime resources, especially its commercial fishing industry which is facing rising threat from fish theft by foreign fishing vessels. (bp)