Bakamla Arrests 5 Illegal Fishermen In Australian Waters

JAKARTA - The Maritime Security Agency (Bakamla) of Bakamla Kupang Station, arrested five fishermen suspected of illegally arresting sea cucumbers in Australian waters.

Head of Bakamla Kupang Station, Major Yeany M. Olang at the Tenau Fish Landing Site (TPI), Kupang, said the five fishermen were arrested along with the MKN Putra ship in Tanjung Batu Putih, Semau Island, Kupang Regency.

When he was arrested, 20 kilograms of sea cucumbers of evidence were found in the box. According to the captain, his boat was arrested in Australian waters," he said as quoted by ANTARA, Friday, November 28.

A number of fishermen who were arrested on Tuesday (26/11) when inspected their ships did not have an official shipping permit.

He said the arrest was proof of Bakamla's commitment to cracking down on illegal activities at sea, including the arrest of protected marine biota and illegal cross-border activities.

"This can be said to be illegal, because they shipping without a permit and catching sea cucumbers in Australian territory," he said.

The five fishermen who are crew members are all Indonesian citizens. After being secured, the ship and crew members were immediately handed over to the Kupang Marine and Fisheries Resources Supervision Station (PSDKP) for processing in accordance with applicable legal provisions.

In addition to sea cucumbers, Bakamla also secured a number of other evidences in the form of diving equipment, a compressor unit, a frog leg, and more than eight sacks of salt allegedly used in the process of processing sea cucumbers.

Yeany added that the action was carried out when the 502 Catamaran carried out routine patrols in the waters of East Nusa Tenggara.

"We hope that this case can be processed thoroughly in order to provide a deterrent effect and maintain the security and sovereignty of Indonesian marine areas," he said.

The incident of fishermen sailing without official documents, he said, was a lesson for other fishermen. Therefore, he hopes that the fishermen comply with the applicable rules.