Throughout 2021 KKP Arrested 135 Illegal Fishing Boats, Vietnam Most Stealed Fish

Illustration (Photo: Doc. KKP)

JAKARTA - The Ministry of Maritime Affairs and Fisheries (KKP) reports that throughout 2021 the government has arrested at least 135 vessels suspected of carrying out illegal fishing in Indonesian waters.

In a release quoted by the editorial team on Monday, September 20, it was known that as many as 88 fishing boats came from Indonesia itself that violated regulations such as using bombs or fishing gear that was not in accordance with the provisions. Meanwhile, 47 other ships came from other countries that stole fish in Indonesian seas.

"Foreign fishing vessels caught were 16 Malaysian-flagged vessels, 6 Philippine-flagged vessels and 25 Vietnamese-flagged vessels," according to information released by the KKP.

Recently, the relevant authorities managed to capture an illegal foreign fishing boat with a Malaysian flag some time ago. The ship, with the code PK 6911F, was manned by six crew members who were all Myanmar nationals, who were arrested during the theft of fish in the Indonesian territory of the Malacca Strait.

"Currently, the ship is ad hoc to Belawan PSDKP Station to undergo further legal processes," said KKP.

The ministry led by Sakti Wahyu Trenggono explained that law enforcement in the Malacca Strait does present its own challenges with the existence of a 'grey area'.

As is known between Indonesia and Malaysia there are still maritime boundaries that have not been agreed upon. The two countries agreed to carry out expulsion measures if there was a violation in the unresolved maritime boundaries between the two countries.