Foreign Ships Are Again Catching Fish In The Natuna Sea

ILLUSTRATION / DOK. BETWEEN

NATUNA - Fishermen in Natuna Regency, Riau Islands, have again rediscovered the rampant activity of foreign fishing vessels (KIA) fishing in the eastern Natuna waters.

One of the fishermen from Ranai Deden Village admitted that he had captured the KIA activity using his cell phone and then uploaded it to his Facebook social media, Friday, November 27.

"Six KIAs are pulling the net with the coordinate point of 4.14.493 N 109.47.879 E or approximately 79 miles from the coast of East Bunguran. I am sure it is a ship from Vietnam," Deden said as quoted by Antara, Friday, November 27.

Not only Deden, his fellow fishermen also discovered the activity of foreign Vietnamese fishing boats in the North Natuna sea on Thursday, November 26.

However, fishermen are reluctant to report to the head of fishermen or the security forces regarding foreign fishing vessels. Because they believe the authorities in charge already know about this.

According to Deden, the most important thing is that the information and evidence in the form of the video has been uploaded on social media.

"Not yet reporting, can only be posted on Facebook. The problem is we fishermen do not go to school, we are not very good at talking," said Deden.

Separately, the Acting Governor of Riau Islands Bahtiar Baharudin emphasized that he would follow up on the activities of foreign fishing vessels in the Natuan sea to the central government.

He understood fishermen's unrest with the proliferation of foreign fishing boats in the Natuna Sea. This is because local fishermen will find it difficult to catch fish because the human resources and fishing gear used are still far behind compared to foreign fishermen

Bahtiar assessed that currently surveillance in Natuna and its surrounding waters by the related security forces is very good. Although there are still foreign fishermen who have been found looting the fishery products of the area.

"All complaints and problems experienced by the community and fishermen in Natuna will be discussed at the central level," he said.