KKP Receives Return Of 36 Indonesian Malays Arrested By Australia

A number of fishermen from Southeast Sulawesi who were arrested by Australian authorities upon arrival at the port of Tenau Kupang, Monday (13/5/2024). ANTARA/Kornelis Kaha

JAKARTA - The Ministry of Maritime Affairs and Fisheries (KKP) received the return of 36 fishermen from Southeast Sulawesi who were arrested by the Australian Fisheries Management Authority (AFMA) while fishing in Australian waters.

"They were arrested about a month ago, and repatriated by Australian water authorities," said Acting Director General of Marine and Fishery Resources Supervision Dr. Pung Nugroho Saksono when met aboard the Orca 05 patrol boat at the fishing port of Tenau Kupang, reported by ANTARA, Monday, May 13.

The fishermen were returned to Indonesia when the patrol boat of the Directorate General of PSDKP carried out patrols in the Indonesia-Australian border area.

A number of these fishermen were transferred from Australian patrol boats after more than two weeks of being arrested and detained on board the ship, for violating Indonesian and Australian boundaries while looking for sea cucumbers.

They were then sent back to Kupang City, to be examined further by the Kupang PSDKP before being sent back to their area.

"Currently, our members have examined and recorded it first at PSDKP Kupang, previously sent back to their respective areas," he added.

He said a number of Indonesian fishermen who were arrested were fishermen from Southeast Sulawesi.

In order to prevent the increasing number of Indonesian fishermen from being arrested by Australian authorities, his party recommended that the fishermen should change professions.

By becoming a seaweed farmer and others. KKP, he said, is ready to help empower fishermen so that they can still have income rather than having to look for or catch fish in the country's waters.

In some cases, many fishermen only use the fishing profession as smugglers, so he said this is a serious concern.

In addition to preventing illegal fishing in Indonesian waters, illegal crossings of fishermen, his party also prevents cases of human smuggling from happening again through areas such as NTT.

Mandang, a fisherman from Southeast Sulawesi, was met on the Orca 05 ship and admitted that he was lucky enough because the selling price of sea cucumbers caught was the lowest per head, the price was Rp. 100,000.

"There are people who buy our catch. However, this is the first time I have been arrested by Australian police," he added.