Thousand Islands Vulnerable to Illegal Fishing, DPRD Urges DKI to Have Its Own Patrol Boat 

JAKARTA - The surveillance of the Thousand Islands waters is considered not to be optimal because the DKI Jakarta Provincial Government (Pemprov) still does not have its own patrol boat. This condition makes the surveillance of illegal fishing practices using bombs and poisons still depends on the loan fleet from the central government.

Member of Commission B of the DKI Jakarta DPRD Jupiter assessed that dependence on borrowed boats makes it impossible to consistently monitor the Jakarta sea area, especially the Thousand Islands.

"Don't let guarding the waters depend on borrowing boats," said Jupiter, Thursday, August 6.

According to Jupiter, the issue of destructive fishing is one of the main complaints of fishermen in the Thousand Islands. Around 100 fishermen representatives from Tidung Island, Pramuka Island, Harapan Island, and Kelapa Island expressed their concerns regarding the still practice of fishing using explosives and poisons.

The activity is carried out in secret, especially at night. In addition to threatening the fish population, the illegal fishing method also damages the coral reefs that are the habitat of various marine biota.

"Fish bombs and poisons are very damaging to coral reefs," said Jupiter.

Jupiter said damage to the marine ecosystem would have a direct impact on traditional fishermen who depend on catches for their livelihoods. Coral reef recovery takes a long time, while pressure on the waters continues.

"DKI must have its own patrol boat so that supervision is consistent," he said.

Therefore, he asked the DKI Jakarta KPKP Office to propose the procurement of patrol boats in the 2027 APBD. The fleet is considered important not only for action against illegal fishing offenders, but also to maintain the sustainability of the Jakarta marine ecosystem.

Apart from the issue of destructive fishing, fishermen from the Thousand Islands also conveyed a number of other issues, ranging from damage to self-help rumpon, the impact of dredging sea sand and reclamation, to the increase in operational costs due to the increase in solar prices.

Previously, the Head of the DKI Jakarta KPKP Office, Hasudungan Sidabalok, admitted that the DKI Jakarta Provincial Government has not yet had its own patrol boat to monitor the Thousand Islands waters.