TEMPO.CO, Jakarta - Maritime Affairs and Fisheries Minister Susi Pudjiastuti said hundreds of ships that committed poaching in Indonesian waters had been drowned since her ministry waged war against illegal fishing.
“We have drowned 100 ships yearly on average, now the total amounted to 488 ships,” said Susi in Yogyakarta, Thursday, Oct 18.
Susi explained the order to drown the poaching ships had been made public to generate deterrent effects.
Read: Susi Pudjiastuti: We Do Not Compromise with Illegal Fishing
As many as 8,000 to 10,000 boats make the rounds in Indonesian waters every day, and not only domestic ships, Susi mentioned.
For example, she added, Vietnam had asked for protection from the Indonesian government for its 2,500 ships and 15,000 boat crew members that operated in Natuna waters. “Vietnam has those thousands of ships, not to mention Thailand and China,” she said.
Susi Pudjiastuti said the illegal ships had not only reduced the amount of fish in Indonesian waters, but also the fuel oil used for operations.
PRIBADI WICAKSONO (CONTRIBUTOR)
