Joint Team Arrests 4 Cantrang Ships In South Kalimantan

The joint team arrested four cantrang ships from East Java that illegally arrested Jorong waters, Tanah Laut Regency. South Kalimantan Province, Monday (24/2/2025). ANTARA/LATif Thohir (ANTARA/LATif Thohir

BANJARMASIN - The Maritime Affairs and Fisheries Service Team of South Kalimantan Province (DKP South Kalimantan) together with the Banjarmasin Marine and Fisheries Resources Supervisory Unit (SDKP), as well as the Directorate of Polairud Polda South Kalimantan arrested four units of cantrang ships operating illegally.

Head of the South Kalimantan Provincial DKP Rusdi Hartono explained that officers arrested the four illegal vessels during a joint patrol after receiving many complaints from fishing communities in Kotabaru.

After the inspection, Rusdi said the fishing boat came from Lamongan, East Java and operated without being equipped with valid licensing documents, and violated the predetermined fishing path.

Rusdi revealed that the ship should have operated in the Fish Fishing Area (DPI) of the II WPP NRI 712 Fish Fishing Line, which is the administrative area of East Java Province.

He emphasized that the law enforcement operation was a response to complaints from local fishermen who felt disturbed by fishing activities carried out by cantrang ships from outside the region.

"The large number of reports from people and fishermen in the Kotabaru area regarding the rise of Cantrang ships entering the South Kalimantan region is known to have entered the 712 Java Sea and 713 Makasar Strait," said Rusdi.

According to Rusdi, irregular fishing activities can threaten the survival of marine ecosystems and fishing communities that depend on marine resources.

"This cantrang ship is very damaging because it can catch coral reefs so that they are lifted into a damaged ecosystem, small fish are also caught, while small fish are not consumed, so it is very damaging," said Rusdi as quoted by ANTARA, Monday, February 24.

Meanwhile, Head of UPT Banjar Raya Fish Auction Port (PPI) Ahmad Zaki said the ship and crew and the catch had been withdrawn to the port of the bridge in the Banjar Raya area.

"Legally, the equipment used was inappropriate and the ship had been taken to Banjarmasin," said Zaki.

Based on reports from the joint patrol team confiscated four units of cantrang fishing boats, namely Putra Baru 2 measuring 30 GT (Gross Tonnage) carrying 18 crew members, 10 tons of catches, and fishing areas including WPPNRI 712 which were secured at the coordinates of 04 deg. 18,445 S-115 deg06,181 E at around 14:23 WITA.

Then, the 28 GT Malda Jaya I ship carrying 17 crew members, four tons of mixed fish caught, the fishing area including PPNRI 712 was secured at the coordinates of 04°20,542 S-115°08,148 E at around 14:54 WITA.

The Kurnia Tawakal ship carrying 22 crew members (ABK), two tons of catch, the fishing area including WPP NRI 712 was secured at coordinates 04 deg 22.226 S-115 deg 10.672 E at around 15:14 WITA.

Finally, the Mayang Sari II ship measuring 29 GT carried 19 crew members, 10 tons of fish caught, the fishing area including WPPNRI 712 was secured at the coordinates of 04°20,235 S-115°13,822 E at around 15:42 WITA.

Rusdi revealed the arrest of the illegal cantrang fishing boat in the waters of Jorong, Tanah Laut Regency, South Kalimantan Province on Wednesday (19/2).