Indonesia, US to Hold Joint Sea Patrols: Minister Susi
22 September 2016 22:28 WIB
TEMPO.CO, Jakarta - Maritime and Fisheries Ministry Susi Pudjiastuti attended a bilateral meeting with the National Oceanic Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) in Washington DC, United States, last week.
“The meeting resulted in several agreements,” Susi said during a press conference at her office on Thursday, September 22, 2016.
One of the agreements is Indonesia-US joint patrol in Indonesian water territories.
“[The joint patrol will be conducted] when US patrol ships pass our water territories,” Susi explained.
Susi revealed that US patrol ships conduct 15 patrols in a year. Susi said that Indonesia must seize the opportunity to conduct a joint patrol with the US.
“The cooperation will benefit us,” she said.
Susi explained that the joint patrol would save the cost to be spent by Indonesia. In addition, Susi revealed that US patrol ships are equipped with advanced systems.
Another agreement signed with the US, Susi added, is related to the Port State Measures Agreement (PSMA) as ratified by Presidential Regulation no. 34/2016 in a bid to detect and prevent illegal, unreported and unregulated fishing activities.
Susi said that joint patrols and investigations with the US and other countries under the Safe Ocean Network's umbrella are necessary to achieve the goal.
ODELIA SINAGA
