KKP Saves IDR 2.1 Trillion From 62 Illegal Foreign Ships In The Natuna Sea

Director General of Marine and Fishery Resources Supervision (PSDKP) KKP Pung Nugroho Saksono (Ipunk) (ANTARA)

The Directorate General of Marine and Fishery Resources Supervision (Ditjen PSDKP) of the Ministry of Maritime Affairs and Fisheries (KKP) said it had arrested 62 illegal foreign vessels in the waters of the Riau Islands during the period 2020 to June 2025.

"During the period 2020 to (June) 2025 specifically in the Riau Islands or in the North Natuna Sea, 147 vessels have been arrested, with details of 85 Indonesian fishing vessels and 62 foreign fishing vessels," said Director General of Marine and Fishery Resources Supervision (Dirjen PSDKP) KKP Pung Nugroho Saksono (Ipunk) quoted by ANTARA, Sunday, June 29.

Ipunk said that most of the success of catching illegal foreign vessels in the North Natuna Sea was due to information from the public or fishermen who reported to PSDKP, and followed up with operations.

Therefore, Ipunk emphasized, information from the Supervisory Community Group (Pokmaswas) and fishermen is very effective in supporting surveillance operations against illegal fishing practices.

"This strategy is very effective in monitoring operations in the border areas of the North Natuna Sea," he said.

He further revealed that the implementation of an integrated surveillance system has succeeded in saving the country's wealth of trillions of rupiah from the practice of fishing theft in the North Natuna Sea, Riau Islands.

"From the arrest of the illegal ship, the KKP managed to save the potential state loss of Rp. 2.1 trillion," said Ipunk.

However, Ipunk said that currently, of the seven supervisory vessels on duty in the State Fisheries Management Area of the Republic of Indonesia (WPP-NRI) 711 waters of the Karimata Strait and the Natuna Sea, only three ships can reach the North Natuna Sea.

Then the limitations of supporting surveillance facilities such as piers, reservoir mess for foreign fishing vessels, and piers to accommodate caught vessels are also challenges.

For this reason, he asked for support from Commission IV of the DPR RI in strengthening the supervision of marine and fishery resources, especially in the North Natuna Sea, Riau Islands.

Previously, Minister of Maritime Affairs and Fisheries Sakti Wahyu Trenggono revealed, to strengthen the supervision of fishery marine resources, his party will increase the capability of the satellite-based integrated surveillance system currently in the KKP Command Center.