Antara 15 Sep 15;
Jakarta (ANTARA News) - The Ministry of Maritime Affairs and Fisheries (MMAF) has seized a Vietnam-flagged fishing vessel which had allegedly captured 45 tons of fish illegally in Indonesian waters.
"The ship was seized by fisheries surveillance vessel (KP), Hiu Macan Tutul 002, when it was performing illegal fishing activities and had caught fish worth over 45 tons," the Director General of Marine Resources and Fisheries (PSDKP) of MMAF, Asep Burhanuddin, said in written statement here Tuesday.
Burhanuddin explained that the Vietnam-flagged vessel with number KM BV 9980 TS and weighing 85 gross tonnage (GT) was arrested in the Indonesian Exclusive Economic Zone (ZEEI), around Natuna, Riau Islands, on September 12, 2015 at around 8:05 pm.
He also revealed that the vessel was caught fishing in the Regional Fisheries Management of the Republic of Indonesia (WPP-NRI) without the necessary permits from the Government of Indonesia.
In addition, the vessel was also using prohibited fishing gear that could damage marine resources and fisheries, such as pair trawl.
During the arrest, officers also secured evidence in the form of the vessel with number KM. BV 9980 TS, one radio SSB communication tool, a GPS navigation tool, one unit wet compass, and 45,000 kg of various varieties of fish.
The six Vietnam crew members along with the evidence were escorted to the Unit PSDKP Natuna to face further prosecution.
The Vietnam vessel was suspected of violating Article 93 paragraph (2) in conjunction with Article 27 (2) of Law No. 45 of 2009 on amendments to the Law No. 31 of 2004 on Fisheries.
The punishment for such a crime can invite maximum imprisonment of six years and a fine of up to Rp20 billion.
Burhanuddin added that the Directorate General PSDKP has conducted legal proceedings against 103 perpetrators illegal fishing during 2015.
The number of illegal fishing vessels comprise 55 foreign vessels and 48 Indonesians. The foreign ships were 36 Vietnamese vessels, eight from the Philippines, six from Malaysia, and five from Thailand.(*)
Minister urges using a range of laws to deal with illegal fishing
Antara 17 Sep 15;
Jakarta (ANTARA News) - Indonesias Minister of Fisheries and Marine Resources Susi Pudjiastuti has urged law enforcers to implement all relevant laws to end the practice of illegal fishing in the country.
"The shortcomings in the fisheries law must be covered by enforcing other relevant laws," she said here on Thursday, referring to legislation such as the Shipping Law, the Corruption Law, the Manpower Law and the Customs Law.
She said implementation of these laws would shore up efforts to end not only illegal fishing but also other related crimes.
She said it was important to arrest illegal fish poachers, act against corporations which are the masterminds behind such activity and make it difficult for the perpetrators to escape the force of law.
She said she believed that strong action would act as a deterrent against fish poachers.
The minister said several steps have been taken to tackle the poaching menace, and would continue to be taken, including enforcement of the administrative law under which the fishing business licenses of 15 companies have been revoked so far.
Other administrative law enforcement measures taken by her office included revoking the fish catching licenses of 208 ships and fish shipping licenses of 26 ships.
With regard to criminal law enforcement, Minister Susi said she also took action against 18 big fishing companies.
Based on the data of the Directorate General of Fisheries and Marine Resource Surveillance, a total of 94 cases have been handled so far, involving 52 foreign fishing ships and 42 illegal Indonesian fishing ships.
Of the 52 foreign ships, 33 carried the Vietnamese flag, eight the Philippine flag, six carried the Malaysian flag and five had a Thai flag.(*)
Indonesian military adds two thousand personnel to guard Natuna waters
Antara 16 Sep 15;
Jakarta (ANTARA News) - The Indonesian military will deploy two thousand personnel to guard the waters of Natuna, Riau Islands, according to Defense Minister Ryamizard Ryacudu.
"The number of military personnel will be increased," Ryacudu noted here on Wednesday.
The military personnel will comprise the Air Forces Special Forces (Paskhas), the Indonesian Marine Corps, and the Armys Raiders.
"Natuna will be protected by one company of the Paskhas along with two companies of the Marine Corps and Armys Raiders," he remarked.
In addition, security in the border areas in Merauke, Maluku, and Tarakan, among others, will be strengthened in terms of the primary weaponry defense system (Alutsista) and military personnel.
Meanwhile, the defense ministry will give a briefing to the community in Natuna on defending the country.
As a result, the people will love and defend their country.
"This is a border area. The people should be made aware on how to defend the country. They should be trained," he emphasized.
Bukit Barisan Military Commander Major General Lodewyk Pusung stated that Natuna, as the northernmost island of Indonesia, should be secured with the deployment of additional troops and defense equipment.
"Natuna is only guarded by two companies of the Armys Raiders comprising 270 personnel," he added.(*)
