8 Fishermen Arrested For Stealing Fish In Aceh Besar Waters, Indian Authorities Have Not Responded

Ditpolairud personnel of the Aceh Police inspect a number of foreign fish crew members (ABK) with Indian flags (Photo Via Antara)

ACEH - The Indian authorities have not coordinated with the Aceh Government regarding the arrest of eight Indian fishermen in the waters of Aceh Besar. They are suspected of stealing fish in Indonesian waters.

"We as well as the Directorate General for Supervision of Marine and Fishery Resources (PSDKP) have reported that there has been no communication with the Indian authorities," said Head of the Aceh Maritime Affairs and Fisheries Service (DKP) Aliman in Banda Aceh, quoted from Antara, Wednesday, March 9 .

Previously, the Air and Air Police Directorate Team (Ditpolairud) of the Aceh Police arrested eight Indian fishermen for allegedly stealing fish in the 18 nautical miles of Lhoong waters, Aceh Besar, Monday, March 7 at around 13.00 WIB.

So far, said Aliman, the Indian authorities or embassy in Indonesia have not been seen to be proactive in seeking information from the Aceh government regarding the fishermen who were arrested.

Aliman said the fishermen are currently under preliminary examination by Polairud and further investigation is still underway. "The next process will be handed over to the PSDKP. Because this is where the incident took place above 12 nautical miles," he said.

Information while they are fishing but have crossed the international waters boundary. "So they enter the territory of Indonesia and this is not justified because they also do not have a permit to catch fish in Indonesia," he said.

Aliman said, regarding the arrest of the Indian flag fishing boat, his party has also coordinated with the Ministry of Maritime Affairs and Fisheries (KKP) through PSDKP.

"If later they are proven guilty, then their ship can be confiscated or later destroyed," said Aliman.

To note, the eight Indian fishermen caught fish using a motor boat with the name Blessing hull, weighing 60 gross tons (GT). They catch fish by longline or fishing, not using trawls.

The joint team has secured fishing rods, position tracking devices, compasses, and a mobile phone. In addition, it also secures fish caught by various types such as sharks and dolphins, with a total weight of up to 700 kilograms.

The eight Indian fishermen who were arrested were Marie Jashindos (34), Immanuval Soe (29), Mutnoppah (48), Sijin (29), Pravin (19), Libin (34), Tomon (24), and Tonbosuco ( 48). They come from the Andaman Islands, India.