Minister Susi to Use Fish DNA to Track Down Illegal Fishermen

TEMPO.CO, Jakarta - Maritime and Fishery Minister Susi Pudjiastuti will use fish DNA tracking to charge ships and shipowners over an illegal fishing act conducted by Silver Sea 2 vessel.  This method is used for the first time to track rigged vessel which is currently examined at Sabang Pier.

“We will examine the DNA of the fishes they have captured with the fishes in our waters,” Susi said Friday, Sept. 25.

Susi said Silver Sea 2 will have a hard time dodging if the fishes on their vessels are identical to the ones in the Indonesian waters.  “Those fishes were surely captured in our waters,” she said.  The research process itself has been ongoing for two weeks.

Silver Sea 2 ship is a vessel captured by the Indonesian Navy on Thursday, Aug 13 2015.  The Thailand-flagged vessel was believed to have been stealing fishes in the Indonesian waters.  “Once examined, the vessel will be towed to be docked at the pier,” said Pasi Intel Lanal Sabang Major M.Akbar.

Silver Sea Reefer Co. Ltd in Bangkok, Thailand, is listed as the owner of Silver Sea 2 vessel.  The vessel has a length of 81.73 meter and capable of carrying 2,200 ton fishes.  Akbar claimed the vessel was spotted 80 miles away from Sabang Sea, Aceh.

However, Silver Cooperation company fought back by submitting a pretrial lawsuit.  The trial will be held September 28, 2015.

DINI PRAMITA | ADI WARSIDI