Tightening Outermost Island Supervision, KKP Uses 20 Satellite Nanos In 2024

The KKP fisheries monitoring vessel. (ANTARA-HO KKP)

JAKARTA - The Ministry of Maritime Affairs and Fisheries (KKP) will strengthen the supervision of Indonesia's outer islands to anticipate the theft of natural resources (SDA) such as sand, fish, shrimp and other marine products.

"KKP optimizes all capabilities with a fleet of surveillance ships and reconnaissance satellites from the theft of Indonesia's natural resources," said Minister of Maritime Affairs and Fisheries Sakti Wahyu Trenggono in Padang, West Sumatra (West Sumatra), Tuesday, October 31.

In addition to the patrol vessel fleet, the KKP in 2024 will launch 20 satellites aimed at directly monitoring the activities of ships suspected of stealing Indonesian natural products.

"So, this satellite nano will take pictures of events that occur in the Indonesian sea," he said.

Sakti said the increase in surveillance could not be separated from cases of theft or dredging of sea sand without permission by Dutch-flagged vessels around the waters of Jakarta Bay some time ago.

The former Deputy Minister of Defense did not want similar cases to happen again so that the results of the Indonesian natural resources went outside without permission, and harmed the state.

He admitted that the condition of the territory of Indonesia, which is so wide, cannot only rely on manual supervision. It takes powerful tools or technology, one of which is through satellite imagery.

Regarding the MV VOX MAXIMA ship which is suspected of dredging the sand without a permit, it has been secured and sealed for processing in accordance with applicable regulations.

"Not only ships, we call the company and we fine it," he said.

Previously, the Directorate General of Marine and Fishery Resources Supervision (Ditjen PSDKP) of the KKP stopped the activity of a marine sand suction ship that dredging sea sand without being equipped with an Approval document for the Compliance of Marine Spatial Utilization Activities (PKKPRL).

The ship violated Article 16A Jo 16 Paragraph (2) of Law of the Republic of Indonesia Number 6 of 2023 concerning Stipulation of Law of the Republic of Indonesia Number 2 of 2022 concerning Job Creation, becomes law and Article 23 Paragraph 1 (Jo) Article 10 Paragraph (1) PP Number 26 of 2023 concerning Management of sedimentation in the Sea.