Vietnamese Officials Challenge KKP To Arrest 9 Foreign Fishermen Curi 1 Ton Of Fish In Natuna Waters

The Directorate General of PSDKP KKP gave a press statement on the arrest of the Vietnamese fishing thief ship in North Natuna Waters, Wednesday (21/8/2024). (ANTARA/Laily Rahmawaty)

The Directorate General of Marine and Fishery Resources Supervision (PSDKP) of the Ministry of Maritime Affairs and Fisheries (KKP) arrested a Vietnamese-flagged ship carrying out fish theft in North Natuna Waters, Riau Islands (Kepri).

PSDKP Director General Pung Nugroho Saksono said the ship also used trawling nets that were prohibited by the government for damaging the marine ecosystem. "This arrest started with information from fishermen who reported that a Vietnamese ship entered North Natuna waters to steal fish, and the arrest process occurred on Saturday or August 17, when the state was celebrating Indonesian Independence Day," he said at the Batam PSDKP Base, Riau Islands, Tuesday, August 21, which was confiscated by Antara.

Pung explained that the 120 GT ship, with a total of nine crew members, including the captain, brought about 1 tonne of stolen fish perforated fish (surface fish).

According to him, the existence of law enforcement proves that border guard officers do not take holidays to maintain the sovereignty of the waters of the Republic of Indonesia.

"That we do not have any holidays, even on the historic day of Proclamation Day, we are still struggling to uphold the sovereignty of Indonesian waters," he said. He said, the arrest of nine foreign fishing boats (KIA) in Vietnam there was resistance from Vietnamese security forces in these waters. The Vietnamese apparatus, said Pung, made efforts to prevent Indonesian officers from carrying the fishing boat for legal processing. "They asked that this ship be released. On the direction of the Minister, we continue to enforce the law," he said. Ipunk emphasized that the ship was not a small fishing boat, saw the size and fishing gear used by the trawl net, so law enforcement had to be carried out, and confiscated the ship. The ship, estimated to have made arrests coming and going, at night, and the fish caught were transferred to the reservoir in its area. "This means that these ships are not small goods and the results of the examiners while they are "hit and run". Taking away, taking away is indeed at the border," he said.

As a result of the practice of fishing theft carried out by KIA Vietnam, the state suffered an estimated loss of Rp. 100 billion. After being arrested, KIA Vietnam and the crew of the ship were taken to the Batam PSDP Base for inspection, an examination report (BAP) was made, and processed according to applicable law. "As usual, we carry out an investigation, the suspect will be investigated, his ship will be confiscated for the state," said Pung.