Indonesia To Maintain Tough Measure Against Illegal Fishing

Jakarta (Antara Bali) - Marine and Fisheries Minister Susi Pudjiastuti told foreign ambassadors that Indonesia will continue applying tough measure against illegal fishing in the country's waters.

"There are thousands of foreign fishing vessels operating illegally in Indonesian waters," Susi said at a meeting on 'International Relations/Donors Meeting' here on Thursday.

She said she did not want to go back to the days when the fishing ships of thieves were handed over back to the thieves through auctions held on order from the court of law.

She said she would pass information to the embassy of a country if the authorities caught or sank  fishing vessels from the related country  for illegally operating in Indonesian waters.

She said she is after the corporations financing the illegal operations not after individuals.

Secretary general of the People's Coalition of Fishery Justice, Abdul Halim said the fishery law has often been implemented against individuals in the sea  while the corporations which finance the illegal operations are safe from the law.

Earlier, Susi said the government will sink fishing ships found illegally operating in Indonesian waters.

She said the measure is allowed by the fishery law  without going through the process at court of law.

The maritime authorities would bring the crew of the ship to safety before their ship was exploded  and sank, she said.

She said she chose the measure as the court's decisions have often been disappointing to the maritime authorities, who have worked hard to bring the suspects and the ships to court. (WDY)