TEMPO.CO, Jakarta - Maritime Affairs and Fisheries Minister Susi Pudjiastuti said 10,000 poacher vessels had left Indonesian waters during while she is in office.

“Ten thousand poacher vessels have been out of Indonesian waters, we have drowned some of them, and the videos are broadcast on television, to make deterrent effects,” she said in Tanjung Pandan, Bangka Belitung, Friday, 27 July.

“Our sea is vast, but it doesn't provide welfare. Our fish have been stolen for years by some illegal vessels. The permit is only for one vessel, but they operate ten vessels and they do not pay taxes,” she said.

Read: Susi Pudjiastuti Expects West Papua To Export Fish

Susi said thanks to the committment and cooperation of various parties united in the 116 task force formed by President Joko Widodo the situation had been contained, which brought about good impacts on Indonesian waters. "The results, in 2017, our national fish spots doubled from 6.5 million to 12.5 million tons,” she said.

Susi also appealed to all parties to oversee and comply with the marine zonation regulations. "Vessels weighing 0 gross tons (GT) should not operate in 4 to 12 miles, so our small fishermen’s catches are not disturbed, and also to heed the regulations of using fishing nets under 3 to 4 miles,” she said.

Susi Pudjiastuti visited today Tanjung Kelayang Beach in Belitung regency, Bangka Belitung Islands, to inaugurate the 2018 Belitung Geopark International Kayak Marathon, in which 82 participants from various countries took part.

ANTARA