Kupang, East Nusa Tenggara (Antara Bali) - The central government will provide a a big patrol vessel in aid to hep watch over the waters of East Nusa Tenggara (NTT) against poachers.
"NTT will have assistance in bigger patrol boat from the Marine and Fisheries Ministry to watch over the waters of the province," head of the sea fishing and supervision division at the regional marine and fishery office Ganef Wurgiyanto said here on Wednesday.
The new patrol boat is needed for the NTT sea security as big foreign fishing vessels were still roaming illegally in the sea territory of the region, Ganef said.
He said so far NTT has only one unit of 15-gross ton patrol boat with a maximum speed of 26 miles per hour.
The boat could not chase a way big fishing vessels with higher speed illegally operating in the NTT waters, he said.
In addition, the boat operates only four times a year with limited operating area in line with order from the regional marine and fisheries office.
Therefore, security in the NTT waters could not be effectively maintained as the region relies only on a small patrol boat with limited operating coverage.
The provincial administration has asked for at least three units of ships from the central government to be able to cover all sea territory of the region, but the government could promise only to provide one unit.
At least the ship could operate once every month that security in the sea could be maintained more effectively, Ganef said.
He said the ships is expected to arrive soon in NTT. (WDY)
