Using Compressor, 11 Illegal Fishermen Arrested In Mabar NTT

Police have arrested 11 fishermen catching illegal fish in West Manggarai waters. (ANTARA/HO-Humas West Manggarai Police)

NTT - Police arrested as many as 11 fishermen illegally fishing in West Manggarai (Mabar), East Nusa Tenggara (NTT).

Head of the West Manggarai Police and Air Unit (Kasatpolairud) AKP Dimas Yusuf Fadhillah Rahmanto said the fisherman used a compressor or fishing gear that was prohibited and did not have official documents when catching fish in West Manggarai.

"They were arrested by a routine patrol team in the waters of Kanai Island, Batu Tiga Village, Boleng District, West Manggarai on Monday (17 February)," he said in a statement received on Wednesday, February 19, which was confiscated by Antara.

He added that dozens of fishermen who were arrested had the initials A (45), H (43), S (39), S (25), M (32), F (28), J (38), S (22), ZA (21), IS (25), S (27). The fishermen came from Pontianak Village, Boleng District, West Manggarai Regency.

"When they were secured, they were found using a compressor and were unable to show the valid fishing permit," he said.

He added that the fishermen were caught in routine patrols held by the West Manggarai Police Satpolairud and the NTT Police Ditpolairud.

The arrest, he continued, began with public information to police officers regarding the use of compressors by fishermen in catching fish.

"After receiving the information, we conducted an investigation for about two weeks until we finally caught these fishermen," he said.

The fishermen to the police in the investigation of the case said they had made illegal arrests over the past two years around the waters of Pulau Kanai.

The police also confiscated a number of evidences in the form of two motorbikes, two compressor machines and a 200 meter long hose, 14 arrows, two fiber cooler boxes containing 60 kg of various types of fish and a number of other evidence.

The fishermen are subject to Article 10 paragraph (3) and Article 69 of the Republic of Indonesia Law Number 31 of 2004 as amended by Law No. 45 of 2009 concerning Fisheries and/or Article 19 paragraph (1) and (2) Law Number 5 of 1990 concerning Conservation of Biological Natural Resources and Their Ecosystems.

"The fishermen are in the process of being investigated directly by joint officers from Polairud and they face a maximum sentence of six years in prison and a maximum fine of IDR 1.2 billion," he said.

In addition, he also appealed to fishermen not to use a compressor machine as a breathing apparatus when diving. In addition to endangering divers, compressor smoke also damages marine water ecosystems.

"We ask fishermen not to use chemicals, compressors and trawlers of tigers when catching fish. This is to prevent damage to marine ecosystems that are a source of livelihood for fishermen," he said.