KKP Affirms Prohibition Of Exploitation Of Marine Mammals Dolphins, Which Are Protected Animals

Illustration: Training on handling stranded marine mammals on the coast of Ulee Lheu Beach, Banda Aceh (Photo: Irwansyah Putra/Antara)

JAKARTA - The Ministry of Maritime Affairs and Fisheries (KKP) confirmed the prohibition on exploiting marine mammals related to the viral incident of a herd of dolphins caught and dead on a fishing boat in Pacitan, East Java. The National Action Plan (RAN) for the Conservation of Marine Mammals for the 2018-2022 period, so that all forms of exploitation of protected marine mammals are strictly prohibited," said Acting Director General of Marine Spatial Management of KKP Pamuji Lestari in a press release in Jakarta, reported by Antara, Monday, January 10. Pamuji Lestari spoke about the incident of a herd of dolphins being caught and dead on a fishing boat in Pacitan Regency, East Java Province, which had gone viral in several media on Saturday, January 8. caught and on the deck of a fishing boat. Pamuji Lestari emphasized that dolphins are protected marine life This regulation, he continued, aims to keep marine biota protected from the danger of extinction, maintain genetic purity and diversity of marine biota species, and maintain balance. the existing ecosystem. "I have ordered the team to resolve this incident and continue to disseminate and educate the public so that this incident does not happen again," he said.

In the initial step of handling the incident, Head of BPSPL Denpasar Permana Yudiarso revealed that BPSPL Denpasar Working Area (Wilker) East Java had coordinated with the Marine and Fisheries Resources Monitoring Unit (Satwas PSDKP) Trenggalek Wilker Pacitan regarding reports of the capture of a herd of dolphins by fishermen in Pacitan Regency when went to sea on Friday (7/1) night. The report, which was also shown by uploading a video on the ndorobei.official Instagram account, showed that several dolphins had been caught and had been raised to the deck of a fishing boat at night. The dolphins are caught in nets with other caught fish so that the biota protected by the state is lifted first to the ship's deck so that the fish that are the target of fishermen's catch can be lifted and stored in the ship's storage. Based on reports, the dolphins were deliberately raised and could last 1-2 hours on the boat so that if they were released again, they were worried that the biota would be hit by the fishing nets again," Yudi explained. Yudi also added that when the dolphins were caught, the 25 GT ship sailing in the waters of WPP 573. The fishing boat has docked at the Tamperan Coastal Fishery Port (PPP), Pacitan Regency, and the dolphins that were caught were returned to the sea by the crew in a dead condition. Currently the case is being handled by the Pacitan Resort Police to investigate asked for further information from the ship's management. “Our Quick Response Team coordinated with the Police and the SDKP Satwas in Pacitan Regency to follow up on the incident. At this time we also continue to provide socialization and understanding to fishermen in Pacitan Regency and its surroundings so that this does not happen again," he explained.