Ask For An Outpouring Of Fish, Fishermen Rote Ndao NTT Is Actuallywanted DKP Not To Break Through Australian Waters

A number of fishermen from Papela Village, East Rote District, Rote Ndao Regency prepared their ships before sailing to look for fish on the Indonesia-Australian border. ANTARA/Kornelis Kaha.

The East Nusa Tenggara (NTT) Maritime and Fisheries Service (DKP NTT) reminded fishermen in Rote Ndao Regency not to violate the rules when looking for fish by entering Australian waters.

According to DKP NTT records, from 2019 to November 2022 as many as 21 fishermen from Rote Ndao in East Nusa Tenggara (NTT) were arrested by Australian water police.

This was revealed by the Head of the Supervision of Marine Resources and Fisheries of the NTT DKP, Mery Foenay, during a cross-border illegal fishing prevention campaign held by the Indonesian Ministry of Maritime Affairs and Fisheries (KKP) together with the Australian Fisheries Management Authority (AFMA) at Rote Ndao.

"They were arrested and detained for catching fish in Australian waters, outside of an agreement between Indonesia and Australia about the MoU Box," he said, confiscated by Antara.

Mery explained that all 21 fishermen came from Rote Ndao Regency and were dominated by fishermen from Papela Village, East Rote District.

He continued, violations to detention by the Australian Government apart from pure fishing to Australian waters, were also because the vessels used were not traditional.

"Based on the agreement between Indonesia and Australia, fishermen who enter the Australian waters, namely in the MoU Box only use a sailing ship, if using an engine, they will be detained," he said.

Furthermore, he said, during 2020 to 2021 there were no arrests and detentions for fishermen from NTT, because at this time there was another COVID-19 pandemic.

Fishermen who violate the waters, said Mery, are only evicted from Australian waters. However, after the COVID-19 pandemic, strict rules were re-imposed by the Australian Government.

This was also confirmed by the Manager of the International Compliance Operations Australian Fisheries Management Authority (AFMA) Lydia Woodhouse.

"We have the latest rules, if a ship enters outside the MoU Box or carries a ship that violates the MoU Box rules, the ship will be burned and the fishermen will be detained," Lydia asserted.