8 Fishermen In Aceh Become Suspects Of Illegal Fishing

Officers examined the suspect in illegal fishing in detention at PSDKP Lampulo, Banda Aceh, Tuesday (13/6/2023). ANTARA/M Haris SA

BANDA ACEH - Investigators of civil servants at the Lampulo Marine and Fisheries Resources Control Base (PSDKP) Banda Aceh, Aceh Province, have named eight fishermen as suspects for illegal fishing.

Head of Lampulo PSDKP Base, Akhmadon, said the eight fishermen were crew members of the KM Rezeki Nauli ship weighing 30 gross tons (GT). The ship is thought to have come from Sibolga, North Sumatra.

"The ship and eight fishermen were arrested while catching fish using bombs in the waters of Alafan, Simeulue Regency, Aceh, on Friday (9/6)," he said as quoted by ANTARA, Tuesday, June 13.

The eight fishermen named as suspects are the captain of the ship with the initials RI (53), AP (52), RH (41), DF (43), BH (42), EK (43), EA (28), and VD (43).

Meanwhile, the evidence that was secured, namely a ship weighing 30 GT, illumination as an explosive axis for bombs, matches, glass bottles for explosives, five barrels of fish, and fish caught of various types weighing up to four tons.

The suspects are suspected of violating Article 84 Paragraph (1) in conjunction with Article 8 Paragraph (1) of Law Number 45 Year 2009 concerning amendments to Law Number 31 Year 2004 concerning fisheries.

"Currently, all suspects are being held at the Lampulo PSDKP Base, Banda Aceh. PSDKP investigators will immediately complete the investigation and delegate it to the prosecution so that it is tried in court," he said.

Fishing using bombs and other illegal fishing gear is prohibited for damaging the habitat and sustainability of fishery resources.

Enforcement of illegal fishing perpetrators such as using explosives or bombs is a law order. Enforcement is an escort to the blue economy program of marine and fishery resources.

"We continue to control illegal fishing gear and are not environmentally friendly in our area, namely the country's fisheries management area of the Republic of Indonesia or WPPNRI 572 which includes the Indian Ocean waters," said Akhmadon.