Minister of Marine Affairs and Fisheries (KP) Sakti Wahyu Trenggono\nresponded to protests from fishermen regarding the mandatory use of\nvessel monitoring systems (VMS) or ship detection devices.<\/p>\n
He emphasized that VMS is not intended to make things difficult for\nfishermen, but rather to ensure their safety while at sea.<\/p>\n
\u201cIn fact, VMS is intended to save fishermen when they are at sea. If\nsomething happens at sea and they do not have VMS, we cannot detect them\nand therefore cannot help them, but if they have it, we can help them,\u201d\nexplained Trenggono during his visit to Kupang, NTT, Wednesday\n(25\/2\/2026).<\/p>\n
According to Trenggono, the mandatory use of VMS does not apply to\nfishing vessels with a capacity of 10 gross tons (GT) or less. The\nregulation only applies to vessels with a capacity of 30 GT or more.<\/p>\n
\u201cThe fishermen we support fall into the category of 10 GT or less.\nThose with a capacity of 10 GT or less are not required to have VMS.\nThose who have vessels of 30 GT or more are required to have VMS,\u201d he\nsaid.<\/p>\n
He emphasized that the government is committed to helping fishermen\nand will not burden them.<\/p>\n
\u201cIn fact, we will tend to help them in the future, the requirement is\nfor fishing companies, meaning those who own the vessels,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n
Previously, a number of fishermen in East Nusa Tenggara (NTT)\ncomplained about the regulation requiring each vessel to have VMS. Ahmad\n(53), a fisherman from Kupang, said he objected to the policy.<\/p>\n
\u201cWe are not allowed to go to sea if we do not have the device (VMS).\nMeanwhile, the device itself costs around IDR 17-23 million,\u201d said\nAhmad.<\/p>\n
Ramadan Safari and Coordination Meeting<\/p>\n
During his visit to Kupang Regency, Trenggono conducted a Ramadan\nsafari by visiting the Merah Putih Fishing Village in Sulamu Village. He\nwas accompanied by NTT Deputy Governor Johni Asadoma, Kupang Regent\nYosef Lede, and Kupang Mayor Christian Widodo.<\/p>\n
\u201cI am here as part of the Ramadan safari, to see the Merah Putih\nfishing village. Earlier, I visited one location in Sulamu, and it has\nbeen completed,\u201d said Sakti.<\/p>\n
He ensured the readiness of the fishing village cooperative and asked\nthe KKP (Ministry of Marine Affairs and Fisheries) to improve it.<\/p>\n
\u201cI have also asked the Director General of KKP to improve the\ncooperative and others,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n
After the visit, Trenggono held a coordination meeting with regional\nheads and Deputy Chairman of Commission IV of the DPR RI Ahmad Yohan to\ndiscuss the marine potential of NTT and accelerate the development of\nfishing villages.<\/p>\n
\u201cEarlier, with the Deputy Governor and regional heads (mayor and\nregent) of Kupang, as well as other regional heads via zoom, and the\nDeputy Chairman of Commission IV as our partner in the Ministry of\nMarine Affairs and Fisheries, we held a coordination meeting,\u201d he\nexplained.<\/p>\n
Trenggono said that the development of the Merah Putih Fishing\nVillage is part of President Prabowo Subianto\u2019s program to encourage the\nmarine sector economy. In NTT, five of the seven fishing villages have\nbeen built and will be re-coordinated in 2026.<\/p>\n
\u201cIn NTT, five of the seven have been built,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n
\u201cIn 2026, we will gather and coordinate again, in the hope that we\ncan find coastal areas that we need to build,\u201d he added.<\/p>\n
Meanwhile, Ahmad Yohan appreciated the support from KKP in NTT. He\nhopes that the development of the marine industry can reduce\nunemployment and poverty.<\/p>\n
\u201cWe greatly appreciate all the programs from the Ministry of Marine\nAffairs and Fisheries entering NTT. Hopefully, with the development of\nthe industry, it can reduce the unemployment rate in NTT,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n
\u201cWith the existence of the industry in NTT, it will also have an\nimpact on reducing the poverty rate, because it will open many job\nopportunities for us in NTT,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n
He ensured that Commission IV of the DPR RI will oversee the\nrealization of the program in 2026.<\/p>\n
(dpw\/dpw)<\/p>", "url": "https:\/\/jawawa.id\/newsitem\/during-ramadan-visit-to-kupang-trenggono-emphasizes-vms-is-not-a-burden-for-fishermen-1772047162", "image": "" }, "sponsor": "Okusi Associates", "sponsor_url": "https:\/\/okusiassociates.com" }