RI wants more from overseas fishing boats<\/p>\n
Wahyoe Boediwardhana, The Jakarta Post, Denpasar<\/p>\n
The government plans to apply a new joint investment scheme to
\ncountries whose fishing firms are licensed to operate in the
\nIndonesian Economic Exclusive Zone to set up processing and
\nsupporting firms in the country.<\/p>\n
The plan should benefit Indonesia more, Minister of Maritime
\nAffairs and Fisheries Fredy Numberi said on Saturday, with
\nfishing firms from Thailand, the Philippines and China likely to
\nbe the first targets of the planned policy.<\/p>\n
At present, Indonesia benefits little from issuing such
\nlicenses as most overseas fishing firms ship their haul directly
\nback home, Fredy said on the sidelines of the 2nd APEC Ocean-
\nRelated Ministerial Meeting here in Bali.<\/p>\n
\"Aside from that requirement, they will have to also unload a
\nsignificant amount of their fish at Indonesian seaports,\" Fredy
\nsaid, hinting that the amount could reach up to 70 percent.<\/p>\n
He refused to specify the timing of the new policy, which
\nwould be in the form of bilateral agreements on a government-to-
\ngovernment basis, but said the deals would be binding for
\ncompanies in those respective countries.<\/p>\n
Hundreds of foreign-flagged fishing boats have been taking
\nadvantage of the vast Indonesian waters, bringing home yields
\nworth billions of dollars annually.<\/p>\n
\"We want to change that. We want to get a fair share (of the
\nproceeds). It must benefit Indonesia,\" he added.<\/p>\n
Building factories will not only mean new investment, but new
\njob opportunities.<\/p>\n
It is not clear whether the plan, which will have no impact on
\nthe holders of existing licenses, is in line with regulations for
\ninternational waters.<\/p>\n
In the case of the Philippines, Indonesia has had
\n\"encouraging\" discussions over the issue with officials from the
\ncountry's department of agriculture, according to Fredy.<\/p>\n
\"Four fishing firms have already shown interest in investing
\nin and building fish-processing factories. There is one in
\nSerang, for instance, which is worth about US$170 million, and
\nanother in Bitung worth $200 million in investment\", Fredy said.<\/p>\n
He did not mention the names of the companies.<\/p>\n
According to Fredy, the three-year licenses for some 250
\nPhilippine-based fishing firms to operate in Indonesian waters --
\nwhich were granted to them in November 2002 -- will expire by
\nDec. 2.<\/p>\n
The plan will also be applied to fishing boats from China and
\nThailand, the licenses of which expire in 2006. The licensed
\nfishing boats from the two countries total 476.<\/p>\n
\"Both are very serious about following up this plan. Thailand
\nin particular, is interested in building the processing
\nfacilities in Benjina (Aru Island), Saumlaki (Maluku Sea), and
\nthe Natuna Sea,\" he said.<\/p>",
"url": "https:\/\/jawawa.id\/newsitem\/ri-wants-more-from-overseas-fishing-boats-1447893297",
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"sponsor": "Okusi Associates",
"sponsor_url": "https:\/\/okusiassociates.com"
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