Indonesian Ministry Seizes Malaysian-flagged Vessel for Illegal Fishing

TEMPO.CO, Jakarta - The Indonesian Ministry of Maritime Affairs and Fisheries (KKP) has seized a Malaysian-flagged vessel for illegal fishing in the Indonesian Exclusive Economic Zone (ZEEI) in the Malacca Strait.

KKP's Director General of Maritime and Fisheries Resources Supervision (PSDKP), Adin Nurawaluddin, noted in his official statement on Saturday that the Hiu 16 surveillance ship caught the vessel after a chase.

"The Hiu 16 Surveillance Ship managed to stop an illegal fishing vessel with the Malaysian flag named KM SLFA 5323," he revealed.

The vessel is currently being escorted to the Dumai SDKP Monitoring Unit Wharf in Riau for further legal proceedings by a team of Belawan PSDKP Fisheries Supervisors and Station Investigators.

The vessel was manned by five crew members, all of whom are Myanmar nationals.

If there is strong evidence of the alleged violation, then the captain of the vessel will be named a suspect for violating several rules in the marine and fisheries sector, with a maximum prison term of five years and a maximum fine of US$2 billion.

Earlier, on Thursday, KKP also managed to arrest an illegal fishing vessel, named KM KHF 2226, with a Malaysian flag.

ANTARA

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