West Kalimantan Police Name 2 Suspects In The Cantrang Ship Case

The arrest of a ship in the waters of Leman Island, Karimata District, North Kayong Regency, West Kalimantan, was suspected of fishing using a cantrang device. (ANTARA/HO-Humas Polda West Kalimantan)

Polda West Kalimantan has named two suspects with the initials WAH and WAR in the case of two fishing boats using cantrang tools to catch fish in the waters of Leman Island, Karimata District, North Kayong Regency.

"The two suspects are the ship's captain who caught fish using a cantrang," said Head of Public Relations of the West Kalimantan Police, Kombes Raden Petit Wijaya in Pontianak, quoted by ANTARA, Tuesday, August 29.

He explained that the two ships were Eka Setia 04 GT. 82 with 23 crew members (ABK) and a Sumber Makmur GT motorboat. 104 with 26 crew members and the ship's captain with the initials WAR and WAH.

According to him, the two ships were initially arrested by local fishermen for allegedly fishing using a cantrang device that violates statutory regulations.

To avoid unwanted things, the West Kalimantan Police Dirpolair Kombespol Raspani ordered its members to secure the two ships and be taken to the West Kalimantan Police Ditpolairud pier for further inspection.

"The two ship's captains have been named as suspects based on different police reports," said Petit.

He explained, in this case the West Kalimantan Police Dit Polairud also secured evidence in the form of two ships carrying fish and squid about 500 kilograms and 200 kilograms of crisis fish.

Petit also stated that the two suspects were applied to Article 85 in conjunction with Article 9 of Law number 45 of 2009 concerning fisheries which had been amended through Law number 6 of 2023 concerning Government Regulation in Lieu of Law (Perpu) number 2 of 2022 concerning Job Creation.

Separately, the Head of the Supervisory Community Group (Pokmaswas) Aware of the Layer, Karimata Islands, North Kayong Regency, Idris appreciated PSDKP and Polairud West Kalimantan for arresting cantrang ships in the waters of Pelapan which have been troubling residents.

"What makes it restless is that the first cantrang ship operates too close to the edge of the island. Second, fishing gear is always lost or shifted from the original, such as fish bubu, clumps and others," he said.

He admitted that he often saw the ship in the Karimata Islands area while fishing in these waters.

"If fishermen are fishing, they often meet the ship," said Idris.

Idris also hopes that ships that use fishing gear that are prohibited from operating in the Karimata Waters of North Kayong Regency because it will harm local fishermen and can damage the marine biota environment.

"If possible, there will be no more cantrang ships in coating waters. We are worried that if we get off in a crowd to catch the ship, things will happen that are not desirable. Please guide those who understand the law and rules," he hoped.