Navy Blows up Two Poachers; Six More Await
22 December 2014 12:14 WIB
TEMPO.CO, Ambon – The Lantamal IX Naval Base in Ambon yesterday morning, December 21, sunk two foreign fishing boats suspected of conducting illegal fishing activities. The Papua New Guinea-flagged vessels were blown up after they were caught poaching on December 7, 2014 in the Arafura Sea, with 72 Thailand and Cambodian crew as well as seven Indonesians on board.
"Both ships have been proven to engage in fishing in Indonesian territory without permission and documents issued by the government," said Navy Commander Rear Admiral Arie Henrycus Meliala Sembiring.
Arie said six more foreign ships are currently facing destruction, pending legal proceedings. The ships were spotted catching fish illegally in Indonesia's Exclusive Economic Zone near the border of Indonesia and Papua New Guinea.
Indonesia loses about 6.7 tons of fish and Rp300 trillion from illegal fishing per year. There are currently an estimated 5,400 illegal ships operating in Indonesian waters.
INDRA WIJAYA | URSULAFLORENE | MOCHTAR TOUWE
