Optimizing Satellite Imagery To Monitor Illegal Fishing In Natuna

Fishing boat illustration (doc. Antara)

JAKARTA - An IPB lecturer from the Department of Marine Science and Technology, Dr. Jonson Lumban Gaol, said that satellite technology can reduce the practice of illegal fishing in Indonesian waters, specifically Natuna. Moreover, there are many foreign-flagged ships carrying out illegal fishing activities in Indonesian waters.

"We can carry out surveillance with various methods, such as non-conventional methods with satellite technology," said Jonson Lumban Gaol, as quoted by Antara, Tuesday, June 1.

He conveyed several technologies that have been used to monitor ships in the world, including automatic identification systems (AIS) and vessel monitoring systems (VMS).

In addition, he continued, it can also use technology as sophisticated as optical imagery sensors, night-ime optical imagery from Visible Infrared Imaging Radiometer Suite (VIIRS) and Sybtetic Aperture Radar (SAR) instruments.

The use of this satellite technology is intended to monitor fishing vessels that do not broadcast their position, either through AIS or VMS and are in dark mode in the public monitoring system.

"Most of the fishing vessels in Indonesia do not broadcast their position and are in dark conditions in the public monitoring system," he said.

With the help of satellite technology, fishing vessels can be monitored in real-time. Satellite technology can also monitor ships that turn off signals from their AIS and VMS.

He explained that satellites with VIIRS instruments can monitor fishing vessels that turn on lighting when carrying out fishing operations at night. Usually, he said, fishing vessels target squid and fish commodities that have positive phototactic properties or like light.

Jonson said fishing vessels usually operate at night, so that supervision with conventional methods such as patrols will be difficult, especially if there are no adequate facilities and human resources.

Considering the activities of Indonesian fishermen on the Natuna border based on satellite data, there are fewer than fishermen from Malaysia and Vietnam. Whereas the Natuna Sea stretches wide to the border.

"The support of this fleet is very important so that fishermen can also optimally take our marine resources. If the fleet is small, surely fishermen will not dare to go to sea to the high seas, especially if the weather is extreme," he concluded.