Govt efforts show sharp decline in illegal fishing boats<\/p>\n
Yuli Tri Suwarni
\nThe Jakarta Post
\nBandung<\/p>\n
The number of foreign fishing boats poaching in waters across the
\narchipelago has dropped significantly, a senior government
\nofficial said.<\/p>\n
In the past, the number of foreign boats plundering Indonesian
\nfish resources reached more than 5,000 boats annually, causing
\nyearly losses of US$4 billion to the state, said Minister of
\nMaritime Affairs and Fisheries Rokhmin Dahuri.<\/p>\n
In 2003, however, the number of foreign poachers had fallen to
\nsome 1,000 boats, with a drop in losses to US$1 billion.<\/p>\n
"The credit must be given to the police and military, which
\nhave taken stern measures against them.<\/p>\n
"In some cases, the military even sunk recalcitrant foreign
\nfishing boats, deterring others from roaming in our waters,"
\nRokhmin said on Tuesday.<\/p>\n
He said the declining number of foreign fishermen operating
\nillegally in Indonesian waters made it possible for local
\nfishermen to maximize their catch and boost fish exports. "They
\nface less competitors, so they were be able to increase their
\noutput," he said.<\/p>\n
The country needs to improve its fishery sector, which is
\nstill weak compared to other countries in the region, such as
\nThailand, the Philippines and Taiwan -- countries which have a
\nmuch more limited coastline than Indonesia.<\/p>\n
The fishery sectors of those countries contribute some 40
\npercent of their respective gross domestic product (GDP), while
\nIndonesia's only contributes 22 percent of GDP.<\/p>\n
"The fishery sector in Indonesia, an archipelago with a
\ncoastline measuring 81,000 kilometers, should be able to
\ncontribute much more to our GDP," Rokhmin said.<\/p>\n
An archipelagic nation, three-quarters of Indonesia's 5.8
\nmillion-square-kilometer territory is sea water.<\/p>\n
Rokhmin also said the government targeted an export volume of
\n9.5 billion tons of fish by 2006. The government has devised a
\nplan to achieve this target, including the relocation of
\nfishermen from coastal areas of overharvested waters to
\nunderdeveloped areas.<\/p>\n
The government plans to relocate some 1,000 fishermen families
\nnext year from Java to other islands in eastern Indonesia to
\nmaximize fish output. Some Rp 50 billion (US$6 million) has been
\nearmarked to finance the program.<\/p>",
"url": "https:\/\/jawawa.id\/newsitem\/govt-efforts-show-sharp-decline-in-illegal-fishing-boats-1447899208",
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"sponsor": "Okusi Associates",
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