JAKARTA - The Ministry of Maritime Affairs and Fisheries (KKP) arrested 32 fishing vessels that carried out illegal fishing until May 2025. Of these, there were 9 foreign fishing vessels (KIA) and 23 vessels originating from Indonesia.
The Director General of Marine and Fishery Resources Supervision (PSDKP) of the KKP Pung Nugroho Saksono or Ipunk said that his party had succeeded in saving potential state losses of up to Rp774.3 billion from illegal fishing activities.
"The potential expansion of state losses that can be saved from illegal fishing vessels was arrested reaching Rp755.9 billion. Meanwhile, from controlling illegal households it reached Rp18.4 billion," said Ipunk as quoted from the KKP YouTube, Wednesday, May 21.
Ipunk said, as many as 9 foreign fishing vessels that carried out illegal fishing came from the Philippines (5 ships), Vietnam (2 ships), Malaysia (1 ship) and China (1 ship).
In addition, 23 illegal households have also been brought under control and part of it is allegedly belonging to foreign fishermen who secretly planted fishing gear in Indonesian waters.
According to Ipunk, the challenge of eradicating illegal fishing is now increasingly complex.
"Illegal fishing in Indonesia is driven by several factors, the world's fish needs continue to increase, neighboring countries have reduced fish resources. Then, our huge fishery potential with open waters becomes a magnet for illegal fishing actors, especially from foreign countries," he said.
In his presentation, Ipunk also said that a number of illegal fishing activities handled by the KKP PSDKP team, including on April 14, 2025, his party had arrested two illegal Vietnamese-flagged vessels. This arrest began with reports from the Indonesian community and fishermen.
"Then we arrested two more foreign ships on Biak, in the waters of the Pacific Sea. These ships tried to escape and fight back when we gave chase because at that time we happened to be on the ship, we led directly," said Ipunk.
Another arrest, said Ipunk, took place on May 9, 2025. At that time, the KKP PSDKP team arrested two Philippine ships in Papuan waters. These large ships with advanced technology have proven to have entered Indonesian territory several times illegally.
"These two ships consist of transport ships and fishing vessels. When we approached, their radar had read our movements. They were old perpetrators in new boats. In fact, they had moved 60 tons of tuna to the Philippines before we caught them," he explained.
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Furthermore, Ipunk said, the operation to arrest illegal fishing was carried out by his party with a modern intelligence and technology approach. "We have a command center. There are pusdals that monitor the movement of foreign ships, vulnerable locations such as the Natuna Sea, Sulawesi Sea, Malacca Strait, Arafura and Java Sea are the main concerns," he said.
In addition, continued Ipunk, the KKP PSDKP team also used an integrated surveillance system, ranging from surveillance vessels, patrol aircraft, radar automatic identification system (AIS) technology to satellites.
"This AIS was proven yesterday, when we tracked the Chinese ship and managed to paralyze it in South Bali," he added.
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