8 Boats in North Natuna Sea, Madura Waters Caught

TEMPO.CO, Jakarta - The Maritime Affairs and Fisheries Ministry (KKP) caught eight Indonesian-flag fishing boats committed operational violations in North Natuna Sea and Madura waters. Seven of them allegedly violated the fishing area (DPI) policy, while the other one nabbed for carrying out illegal transshipment.

“During the surveillance operation on March 18-19, the KKP’s Fishery Monitoring Ships secured eight boats violating operational regulations,” said the Acting Director-General of Marine and Fisheries Resources Supervision, Antam Novambar, in a written statement on Sunday, March 21.

The seven boats were KM. Surya Jaya Indah 08 (58 GT), KM. Garuda Hasil (46 GT), KM. Darmawan Mina Abadi (45 GT), KM. Teguh Harapan V (82 GT), KM. Sumber Sejati Baru 2 (35), KM. Adi Daya-V (95), and KM. Lake Toba Permai (60 GT).

These ships, Antam explained, used cast net fishing gear that was supposed to operate in the Java Sea, the Malacca Strait, and the Indian Ocean. “This violation would lead to overexploitation in one of the Fisheries Management Areas (WPP).”

Apart from the seven vessels, the monitoring boat Hiu 09 conducting surveillance patrols in Madura waters also arrested one carrier ship identified as Wira Samudra B (124 GT) over alleged illegal transshipment as it could not present a license and equipped with an observer as required.

Throughout 2021, the KKP has thus far captured 46 illegal fishing vessels which six of them were Malaysian-flagged boats.

Read: Vietnam Illegal Fishing Ships Arrested in North Natuna Sea

MUHAMMAD HENDARTYO