US Provides Anti-Illegal Fishing Satellite to Help Susi
20 January 2015 15:54 WIB
TEMPO.CO, Jakarta - Robert Orris Blake, the United States Ambassador to Indonesia, expressed his support towards Marine Affairs and Fisheries Minister Susi Pudjiastuti in guarding Indonesia's maritime sovereignty.
"We want to show that President Obama supports President Joko Widodo's maritime agenda," said Robert on Tuesday, January 20, 2015.
As a form of support, Blake provides a satellite system technology that can detect lights from vessels sailing at night. This satellite is integrated with a computer telephony integration system and will be connected to the Marine Affairs and Fisheries Ministry's Infrastructure Development for Space Oceanography (Indeso) program.
With the satellite, authorities can detect if a vessel turns off its vessel monitoring system (VMS), an action that Poachers usually do.
Blake said that he will hold another meeting with the Marine Affairs Ministry to discuss the satellite technology. The US also provides a US$33 million aid, following a previous US$35 million.
"We are happy to work with Susi in eradicating illegal fishing," Blake said.
DEVY ERNIS