TEMPO.CO, Jakarta -Maritime Affairs and Fisheries Minister, Susi Pudjiastuti has earned praise for her resolve in eradicating illegal fishing. However, quite a few business people feel they became victims of her campaign, even though they say they have been law-abiding businesses all this time. They claim the Minister is doing more harm than good, the losses incurred as a result of her campaign reaching up to Rp3 trillion, as she applies the same treatment equally to all concerned parties. At the Tempo office last week, she explained her position, maintaining that everything her ministry implemented was according to existing laws and regulations.

What is the reason for extending the moratorium on foreign fishing vessels to another six months?

There are four criteria we are looking into, with the help of other institutions. They are: compliance in paying taxes, submitting financial reports and reports on unloaded fish and the legality of vessel ownership transfer. All of those points must be assessed. The moratorium is not just on illegal fishing alone, but also on the area of fishing operations (WPP). There are areas which have been overfished. We need to regulate that and that takes time.

Have there been any vessels which have passed analysis and evaluation? How many of them?

So far, no vessels have been classified as having passed any evaluation. Some 907 of them have failed because they broke regulations, such as using trawls and carrying foreign flags. It is not true that 225 other vessels had passed assessment. I don't think any of them have passed because the process is unfinished. But if those 907 vessels want to appeal, please go ahead. They must submit their data, but it seems that's not what they want. Take the vessel Maritim Timur Jaya. After we analyzed and evaluated their data, they could not resume operations. In the end, they just wanted to send home all their boats, and that's the funny thing: If they flew Indonesian flags, why would they want to go home? Where is home? Isn't this home?

Will companies who pass inspection be announced?

The result of our analysis is not open for publication and not aimed at naming names. Because of a possible legal violation by some of them, we also refrain from publicly announcing who they are. If they become a criminal case, it becomes the jurisdiction of the police. Our aim is not to imprison anyone in particular, but to restructure the fishing business. In the future, foreign vessels will not be able to go to areas of caught fish because that can lead to human trafficking, drug smuggling and the smuggling of weapons and so forth.

What about vessels which comply with the law buts get caught in the process?

We cannot say they (225 vessels) broke the rules. But are they ready and prepared to be scrutinized? To what extent must I reveal all? Are they willing to pay taxes? Through what door will non-oil exports go through? If they want to promote their case, they are most welcome. I believe that to this day, 99.9 percent to them are not innocent of illegal fishing.

You have been accused of seeking the mistakes of businessmen by inspecting their financial and tax reports, while simultaneously looking out for banned drugs, which is not your responsibility.

Some say finance is not under my jurisdiction. But all companies which hold fishing licenses must submit a report of their operation plans every three months. This is a must in the airline industry. At Susi Air, I always submit my financial reports. Otherwise my license doesn't get renewed. As for drugs, as a citizen, I am carrying out the policy of reporting any crime being committed.

Initially wasn't this about trawling and using big nets? What's the solution?

Although they are banned, Javanese fishermen still keep on fishing in that way. There have been no shutdowns. I have reported this to Pak Ganjar (Pranowo, Central Java governor). I say go ahead and do it, except for vessels of at lest 30 gross tons and under 12 million. (*)

What is the reason for extending the moratorium on foreign fishing vessels to another six months?

There are four criteria we are looking into, with the help of other institutions. They are: compliance in paying taxes, submitting financial reports and reports on unloaded fish and the legality of vessel ownership transfer. All of those points must be assessed. The moratorium is not just on illegal fishing alone, but also on the area of fishing operations (WPP). There are areas which have been overfished. We need to regulate that and that takes time.

Have there been any vessels which have passed analysis and evaluation? How many of them?

So far, no vessels have been classified as having passed any evaluation. Some 907 of them have failed because they broke regulations, such as using trawls and carrying foreign flags. It is not true that 225 other vessels had passed assessment. I don't think any of them have passed because the process is unfinished. But if those 907 vessels want to appeal, please go ahead. They must submit their data, but it seems that's not what they want. Take the vessel Maritim Timur Jaya. After we analyzed and evaluated their data, they could not resume operations. In the end, they just wanted to send home all their boats, and that's the funny thing: If they flew Indonesian flags, why would they want to go home? Where is home? Isn't this home?

Will companies who pass inspection be announced?

The result of our analysis is not open for publication and not aimed at naming names. Because of a possible legal violation by some of them, we also refrain from publicly announcing who they are. If they become a criminal case, it becomes the jurisdiction of the police. Our aim is not to imprison anyone in particular, but to restructure the fishing business. In the future, foreign vessels will not be able to go to areas of caught fish because that can lead to human trafficking, drug smuggling and the smuggling of weapons and so forth.

What about vessels which comply with the law buts get caught in the process?

We cannot say they (225 vessels) broke the rules. But are they ready and prepared to be scrutinized? To what extent must I reveal all? Are they willing to pay taxes? Through what door will non-oil exports go through? If they want to promote their case, they are most welcome. I believe that to this day, 99.9 percent to them are not innocent of illegal fishing.

You have been accused of seeking the mistakes of businessmen by inspecting their financial and tax reports, while simultaneously looking out for banned drugs, which is not your responsibility.

Some say finance is not under my jurisdiction. But all companies which hold fishing licenses must submit a report of their operation plans every three months. This is a must in the airline industry. At Susi Air, I always submit my financial reports. Otherwise my license doesn't get renewed. As for drugs, as a citizen, I am carrying out the policy of reporting any crime being committed.

Initially wasn't this about trawling and using big nets? What's the solution?

Although they are banned, Javanese fishermen still keep on fishing in that way. There have been no shutdowns. I have reported this to Pak Ganjar (Pranowo, Central Java governor). I say go ahead and do it, except for vessels of at lest 30 gross tons and under 12 million.