TEMPO.CO, Jakarta - The Coordinating Ministry for Political, Legal, and Security Affairs held a special ministerial-level meeting to discuss the evaluation of the handling of illegal fishing in 2019, including the existence of Task Force or Satgas 115 established by Susi Pudjiastuti, previous maritime affairs and fisheries minister.

The meeting was held at the Coordinating Ministry Office on Jalan Medan Merdeka Barat, Central Jakarta, Thursday, January 23.

"We have discussed Satgas 115 on how the team deals with illegal fishing, [and] its effective function," said Presidential Chief of Staff Moeldoko who attended the session.

Moeldoko refused to ensure the future existence of the anti-illegal fishing task force. However, until the evaluation program was running, the team would operate as normal temporarily. "Because the law does not yet exist, [the team] will resume its activities while being improved," he added.

Satgas 115 was established back when Susi Pudjiastuti served as the minister, following the issuance of the Presidential Regulation No. 115 of 2015 on the task force to combat illegal fishing.

The Coordinating Minister for Political, Legal and Security Affairs Mahfud MD said the task force has no standard operating procedure (SOP) despite its good performance. The SOP would be drafted by the Ministry of Maritime Affairs and Fisheries soon, detailing the team’s functions, tasks, and budget.

Mahfud explained that Satgas 115 was said to have carried out law enforcement on the illegal fishing eradication thus far, while in fact, those activities were executed by the country’s coastguard or Bakamla and Sea Police.

EGI ADYATAMA