TEMPO.CO, Jakarta-The Delegations of the European Union to Indonesia and the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) on Monday, April 18, have visited Batam to inspect seven illegal fishing vessels to be sunken.
The visit was conducted by Head of Cooperation of European Union delegates to Indonesia Franck Viault, Head of Education and Training Center of the Supreme Court Agung Agus Subroto, authorities from the Supreme Court, Marine Affairs and Fisheries Ministry, fisheries judges, investigators of the National Police, the Navy and civil servant investigators.
Tempo observed that there were two Thai-flagged vessels, one Vietnam-flagged vessels, and four Malaysian-flagged vessels at the Marine Resources and Fisheries Surveillance Office (PSDKP) Batam. “The decision is not inkracht [legally enforceable and binding] yet, so the sinking has not been carried out yet,” said PSDKP Batam Chief Akhmadon.
Aside from inspecting the vessels, the entourage also visited Detention Center which temporarily houses illegal fishing crew members who are awaiting legal action. Some 27 crew members are being housed in three rooms.
Data from the PSDKP Batam revealed that nine Burmese crew members, five Vietnamese crew members, and two Thailand crew members are currently placed in the Detention Center. There are also 11 crew members of FV Viking vessel arrested in Riau Islands waters in Feb. 26.
The entourage also met with the skipper of Marine Affairs and Fisheries Ministry’s Hiu 3213 Patrol Boat, Irzal Kadir. He revealed that he has just captured three Vietnam-flagged vessels in the northern waters, around 160 miles from Natuna Island.
Irzal said that the boats carried 25 Vietnamese crew members who conducted pair trawling activities. “At present, the vessels are under the custody of investigators in Natuna, while another vessel has managed to escape,” he said.
Having inspected the PSDKP Batam, Chief Technical Advisor of European Union-UNDP Indonesia’s SUSTIAN project Gilles Blanchi said that the quality of infrastructures to address illegal fishing cases is proportional. “It shows Indonesia’s commitment in law enforcement in illegal fishing,” he said.
ANGELINA ANJAR SAWITRI
