TEMPO.CO, Yogyakarta - President Joko “Jokowi” Widodo dubbed illegal fishing as the biggest crime at sea.

“Illegal fishing is an organized international crime,” Jokowi said at The 2^nd International Symposium on Fisheries Crime in Yogyakarta on Monday, October 10, 2016.

According to President Jokowi, Indonesia’s commitment to fighting illegal fishing is reflected in being the host of the international symposium.

“More countries are aware that illegal fishing is a major crime at sea that must be addressed,” President Jokowi added.

He suggested that sea is one of the major sources that supports the lives of people in the world.

“About 2.6 billion people are dependent on the sea,” he said.

Jokowi revealed that Indonesia would continue to wage a war against illegal fishing since the crime caused US$20 billion in state losses and damages to 65 percent of the coral reef. Data from the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) of the United Nations (UN) revealed that Indonesia is one of the largest fish producers supplying six million tons or 68 percent of the world’s demands on sea products per year.

“Eradicating illegal fishing would result in an increase in sea production capacity,” he said.

President Jokowi expressed his appreciation to ministries, institutions, and law enforcers for eradicating illegal fishing activities. As a result, the country’s sea product capacity increased from 7.3 million tons in 2013 to 9.9 million tons in 2015.

The 2^nd International Symposium on Fisheries Crime has been scheduled to take place on October 10 and 11, 2016 in Yogyakarta. Also attending the event are Maritime and Fisheries Minister Susi Pudjiastuti, National Police chief Gen. Tito Karnavian, Yogyakarta governor Sri Sultan Hamengkubuwono X. Among countries sending their delegations to participate in the event are Australia, Austria, China, India, Ghana, Nigeria, South Africa, and Vietnam.

ODELIA SINAGA