New regulation in works to curb illegal fishing<\/p>\n
JAKARTA (JP): The government will apply a new fishing
\nlicensing regulation as it moves to curb illegal foreign fishing
\nin Indonesian waters, Minister of Maritime Exploration Sarwono
\nKusumaatmaja said on Thursday.<\/p>\n
He said the licensing procedure was being prepared by a
\nspecial team in his ministry, with the expectation it would be
\nready within the next four months.<\/p>\n
\"Our problem with illegal foreign fishing is largely linked to
\nour weak licensing procedure that is prone to manipulation,\"
\nSarwono said on the sidelines of a national meeting of
\nthe Association of Indonesian Fishing Companies (Gappindo).<\/p>\n
Illegal foreign fishing is estimated to cost the country some
\nUS$4 billion in lost revenue every year, while Indonesia earns
\n$2.2 billion from its own fishing sector.<\/p>\n
Sarwono said his office would work with other related
\ngovernment institutions, such as the Ministry of Communications,
\nin drafting the regulation.<\/p>\n
He said the licensing procedure would also accommodate the
\ntrend toward greater regional autonomy and stressed that a
\ntighter control system should follow the implementation of the
\nregulation.<\/p>\n
\"First we have to fix our licensing procedure and then our
\ncontrol system. A weak control system would just make the new
\nlicensing procedure useless,\" Sarwono said.<\/p>\n
He said Indonesia would apply the Monitoring Controlling
\nSurveillance (MCS) system in safeguarding its marine potential.<\/p>\n
Although not disclosing the cost of MCS, which is an
\nelectronic surveillance network using radios, radars and
\nsatellites, Sarwono assured that the technology was becoming more
\naffordable.<\/p>\n
\"We can make several components locally and it's a standard
\nequipment in most countries, including poor ones,\" he said.<\/p>\n
He said the Indonesian fishing industry also supported the
\nproposal.<\/p>\n
Gappindo chairman Sutara Martadisastra said the association
\nwelcomed the government's move to tighten the monitoring of
\nforeign fishing vessels operating in Indonesian waters.<\/p>\n
He also recommended the government simplify the fishing
\nlicensing procedures through the processing of applications by
\none ministry only.<\/p>\n
On the fishing industry's prospects, he said banks were still
\nreluctant to channel their funds to the sector and preferred the
\nproperty industry.<\/p>\n
But he said the industry held great potential as Indonesia was
\nthe world's eight largest fish exporter, with exports reaching
\n4.8 million metric tons in 1998.<\/p>\n
\"However, Gappindo will take the initiative to cooperate with
\none or two banks in financing this sector and the procurement of
\nfishing vessels,\" he said.<\/p>\n
Sutara said he would approach Bank Agro, while Sarwono would
\ntry to obtain funding from state Bank Mandiri.(bkm\/10)<\/p>",
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