TEMPO.CO, Jakarta - The Indonesian Task Force for illegal, unregistered, and unreported fishing (IUUF) is on alert for foreign vessels suspected of operating "in disguise" as Indonesian-flagged. The Satgas 115 Special Staff member, Yunus Husein, said his unit continues to verify reports from the public and marine authorities.

"Once there is a suspicion that a ship was built with foreign money, we will check it," Yunus told Tempo yesterday.

Yunus was unable to provide details on the verification process and result yet, but said that the investigation is related to the construction of ships indicated to have been paid by foreigners' money.

However, Yunus said, not all verification has been completed. Tracking down the source of fund and shipbuilding transactions is the toughest challenge to this investigation.

Read also: Minister Susi Suspects 300 Illegal Boats Operate in Indonesia

"We are proactive, but we need information disclosure from the business people. We can ask the Financial Transaction Reports and Analysis Center (PPATK) to help, but it takes time," he said.

The presence of foreign ships disguised as Indonesian vessels was revealed by Maritime Affairs and Fisheries Minister Susi Pudjiastuti, last Tuesday. "Today, I have discovered that there are 300 ships operating under Indonesian names, but they actually belong to foreigners," she said.

Susi did not mention the details but she suspected that this practice involved Indonesian citizens, from fishermen, the state civil apparatus, to politicians.

This allegation surfaced along with the Ministry's discovery about the existence of "recidivist ships". It was called that because a Malaysian-flagged ship was re-arrested in February in Indonesian waters for illegal fishing. The ship had already been captured in August 2017 for the same crime. It is suspected that the ship was bought by illegal fishing network through auction.

Since the beginning of the year until April 9, the authorities have captured 38 fishing boats for illegal fishing. Twenty eight of those boats are foreign-owned.

FRANSISCA CHRISTY ROSANA | DIAS PRASONGKO | JOHN PASCALIS PAE DALE