TEMPO.CO, Jakarta - Marine and Fisheries Minister Susi Pudjiastuti has expressed concern on baby tuna farming development by Australia, Japan, Taiwan and Europe because it demands supplies of baby tunas.

"These baby tunas only exist in Indonesian waters. They are also [available] in other locations, but only a few," said Susi on Thursday, November 27, 2014. One of baby tuna centers in Indonesia is in Tomini Bay, Central Sulawesi.

Susi was concerned that the aforementioned countries will deploy fish aggregating device in depth of more than 300 meters to gather schools of fish and catch them easily.

Susi also mentioned the issue of fish stealing by foreign vessels. She said that there are foreign vessels operating in Indonesia that never report their catches.

In illegal fishing practice, smaller vessels will catch fish in Indonesian waters. Later on, the fish will be moved to bigger vessels or trempers. Most of those vessels have a capacity of hundreds to thousands of gross tonnage.

"After I signed the [ship permit] moratorium last month, those trempers are now in exclusive economic zone," said Susi.

Susi has placed a moratorium vessel permit for vessels with a capacity of more than 30 gross tonnage starting in November 2014 up until the next six months. After the moratorium ends, there will be a new regulation.

KHAIRUL ANAM