8 Fishermen In Aceh Who Use Illegal Fishing Equipment Arrested

BANDA ACEH - Personnel from the Directorate of Water and Air Police (Ditpolairud) of the Aceh Regional Police arrested eight fishermen suspected of using illegal fishing gear in the waters of Aceh Island, the outermost island in Aceh Besar District.

Director of the Air and Water Police of the Aceh Police, Kombes Risnanto, said that along with the eight fishermen, two motorboats and a compressor were also secured.

"The eight fishermen were arrested for allegedly catching fish using a compressor in the waters of Aceh Island, Sunday (19/6)," said Kombes Risnanto, Monday, June 20.

He said the use of compressors to catch fish was prohibited because it was dangerous to health and risked death.

The eight fishermen, with the initials ZK (44) and MN (29) respectively, were the captain, as well as crew members with the initials DW (36), SR (27), YS (32), MZ (25), MR (24), and YN (32).

While the evidence that was secured were two motorboats with 40 PK engines, two compressor units, swimming equipment, fishing equipment, fish baskets, hoses, fuel jerry cans, caught fish, and others.

Kombes Risnanto said the arrest of eight fishermen started from public information. The community reported that a group of fishermen caught fish using a compressor.

Receiving the report, the team from the Sub-Directorate of Law Enforcement (Subdit Gakkum) Ditpolairud investigated it. The team also had time to catch two motorboats used by the perpetrators using a "tactical" boat.

"After being stopped, two motorboats and eight fishermen were taken to the Ditpolairud Command Headquarters in the Lampulo area, Banda Aceh City, for inspection," said Kombes Risnanto.

The perpetrators are threatened with being charged with violating Article 85 in conjunction with Article 100B of Law Number 45 of 2009 concerning fisheries as amended in paragraph 2 of Article 27 number 26 of Law Number 11 of 2020 concerning Job Creation.

"The punishment for this crime is one year in prison and a maximum fine of IDR 250 million," said Kombes Risnanto.