22 fishery licenses revoked

JAKARTA (JP): The Ministry of Agriculture has revoked at least 22 fishery licenses and suspended 59 fishery companies for violating government regulations.

"We have also issued warning letters to 669 companies," Director of Agricultural Business Development and Crops Processing Boedi Soesilo said over the weekend.

He said that of the 669 warning letters, 330 are first warnings, 228 second warnings and the other 111 are third warnings.

According to Boedi, the violations include the breaching of concession regulations, the falsifying of fishery and shipping licenses, and the trading of licenses.

"If they continue violating regulations, we will revoke their licenses," he was quoted by Antara as saying.

Boedi said that the ministry cooperates with the Navy and the Directorate General of Sea Transportation in monitoring the activities of fishery companies. (13)