Indonesia to Sink 70 Illegal Foreign Fishing Boats in April
16 March 2017 21:08 WIB
TEMPO.CO, Jakarta - Indonesian Navy’s Deputy Chief of Staff Admiral Achmad Taufiqoerrochman stated that they have detained 70 illegal fishing boats that are ready to be sunk in April 2017. The schedule was originally set for March but was delayed.
“Considering the State’s dense schedule, [such as] the IORA Conference and King Salman’s visit. We will do it in April,” Taufiq said on Thursday, March 16, 2017.
According to Taufiq, the number of illegal fishing boats that is set to be sunk will increase. This is due to the Indonesian Navy in the western region had just captured a foreign illegal fishing boat a few days ago. “It will increase and that number is for this year alone.”
Taufiq revealed that the legal status of the 70 boats is final. The size of the boats is various from a 70 GT (gross tonnage) to 120 GT. “The large ones will be made into monuments.”
Asked upon how many illegal fishing boats that will be turned into monuments, Taufiq explained that it will not be in a large number, just enough to represent the message.
The boats will be drowned in the spots where they were captured, he added. “They will be drowned in Indonesia’s Western region and Eastern parts too.”
DIKO OKTARA