Mafia In Fishery Sector Very Strong: KNTI

Jakarta (Antara Bali) - The mafia in the fishery sector is very strong as indicated by the recent revelation of two legal cases in the fishery sector, according to the Indonesian Traditional Fishermen Union (KNTI).

"The KNTI is aware that the mafia practice in the fishery sector is very strong. The law enforcers should prioritize the arrest of the main actors behind illegal fishing," KNTI Chairman M. Riza Damanik remarked on Sunday.

The main actors behind illegal fishing who operate furtively behind national/foreign firms, bureaucracy, and even law enforcement institutions should be revealed, he emphasized.

He remarked that the revelations of the two latest cases in the fishery sector indicate that the legal process in the country over the past five months only has insignificant deterrent effects.

The two cases are the light punishment meted out to a giant four thousand gross tonnage (GT), Panama-flagged MV Hai Fa fishing vessel and the slavery case of fisherman in Benjina, Aru Island, Maluku.

"The disclosure of the slavery practice in Benjina, Aru Island, Maluku, and the MV Hai Fa case indicates that upholding of the law in the fishery sector in the past five months has not yet created significant deterrent effects," Damanik affirmed on Sunday.

He pointed out that the Indonesian law enforcers should have set an example to the world about their firm stance to uphold the law in a just and professional manner.

With regard to the Panamanian ship, Damanik stated that the law enforcers should uphold the law by confiscating the ship, with an indictment being filed for committing the direct crime of fish poaching.

"MV Hai Fa was caught red-handed loading fish, including protected species and those not allowed to be caught, traded, and exported, without proper documents and has violated the Vessel Monitoring System (VMS)" he noted. (WDY)