RI-Malaysia Collaborate To Hold Marine Operations To Fight Fish Theft

Photo via Antara

JAKARTA - The Government of the Republic of Indonesia through the Ministry of Maritime Affairs and Fisheries plans to hold a marine operation together with the Malaysian authorities to protect the sea and eradicate illegal fishing activities.

"There needs to be a joint operation between the Malaysian authorities and the PSDKP (Supervision of Marine and Fisheries Resources) KKP, not only with the Police and Bakamla," said Maritime Affairs and Fisheries Minister Sakti Wahyu Trenggono in a meeting with Malaysian Home Affairs Minister Dato' Seri Hamzah. Bin Zainudin at the KKP Office, Jakarta, Monday, January 24.

The results of the meeting, among others, were that the two sides agreed to carry out joint surveillance operations to suppress the occurrence of illegal fishing practices that still occur in border waters between Indonesia and Malaysia, especially in the waters of the Malacca Strait which are still overlapping.

This joint supervision also aims to provide education to fishermen from both countries, so that there will be no more arrests made by the Malaysian authorities against Indonesian fishermen and vice versa.

In addition to direct joint patrols at sea, Minister Trenggono and Minister Dato Seri Hamzah also agreed on the need to strengthen technology so that joint surveillance can run optimally.

Minister Trenggono added that joint supervision is also in order to maintain a sustainable fisheries ecosystem.

Moreover, he continued, most of the illegal fishing vessels that have been caught so far use non-environmentally friendly fishing gear in order to get abundant catches.

Based on data, the Directorate General of PSDKP caught 22 Malaysian-flagged fishing vessels throughout 2021, for carrying out IUU fishing activities with the majority of fishing gear types being trawling in the waters of the Malacca Strait (WPPNRI 571) and the waters of the North Natuna Sea (WPPNRI 711).

"Currently there are 14 Indonesian fishermen who are undergoing legal processes in Malaysia. Likewise, Malaysian fishermen who are undergoing legal processes in Indonesia," said Trenggono as quoted by Antara.

The Minister of Maritime Affairs and Fisheries of the Republic of Indonesia expressed his hope that with joint operations, in the future there will be no more fishermen violating the rules and no more arrests.

Malaysian Home Affairs Minister Dato' Seri Hamzah Bin Zainudin proposed that joint patrol operations be carried out routinely three to four times a year.

This operation, according to him, is a decisive step for the Government of Indonesia and Malaysia in combating illegal fishing practices.

"That the operation is not carried out for fishermen from outside countries, but fishermen from our own country (Indonesia - Malaysia) who do not want to follow the law," he stressed.

The next step after the meeting of the two ministers, will be the preparation of cooperation documents by the respective ministries/institutions concerned as a form of formal agreement.