Aru's waters vulnerable to illegal fishing

Aru's waters vulnerable to illegal fishing

M. Azis Tunny, The Jakarta Post, Ambon

An official says illegal fishing has gotten out of control around
the 187 islands of the Aru Island regency, Ambon, which comprises
6,325 square kilometers stretching from Wairalau island to Enu
island.

Aru community leader Soleman Mantaibobir, who is a candidate
for regent of the new regency, which was established in 2003, was
discussing the problem on Saturday.

Soleman said the regency, known as pearl producer, was made up
of 187 islands, of which only 89 were inhabited.

"Many of the islands are uninhabited and they have been
neglected. These islands could contribute to the regency if they
were properly managed, such as for tourism or fisheries," Soleman
said.

Aru Island regency has three districts -- the Aru Islands
district, which has 42 villages, the Aru Tengah district with 44
villages and the Aru Selatan district with 32 villages.

He said because the regency was made up of so many islands,
transportation was a major problem.

Soleman asked the Navy and the police to increase their naval
and air patrols to cut down on illegal fishing in Aru's waters.

"The waters around Aru are rich with fish, but these fish are
quickly disappearing due to reckless fishing practices, both
legal and illegal," he said.

He said that as a new regency, the Aru Island administration
needed a great deal of funds to pay for development programs.

A naval commander in Ambon, First Admiral Bambang Supeno, told
The Jakarta Post it was difficult for the Navy to increase its
patrols because there were only five ships in the area. The ships
operate in the waters of Ambon, Aru and Maluku Tenggara Barat.

The head of the Maluku provincial fisheries office, Romelus
Far-Far, told the Post illegal fishing was widespread in the
Arafura Sea, which is part of Aru Island regency waters but is
under the authority of the central government.

He said his office did not have the manpower or equipment to
deal with the problem of illegal fishing.

"We hope that coordination between naval patrols and police
air patrols will help control illegal fishing around Aru,"
Romelus said.

According to data from the fisheries office, there are about
1,400 ships officially operating in the Arafura Sea. However, it
is thought there are an equal number or more of unregistered
ships operating in the area.

Romelus said that because the Arafura Sea was under the
jurisdiction of the central government, many fishing boats
operating in the sea received permits from the Ministry of
Maritime Affairs and Fisheries.

He said many companies that received a permit to fish in the
area copied the permit and doubled the number of boats they
operated in area.

"By copying the permits, those ships can operate freely. So
while we only have a record 1,400 ships, we are sure it there are
many more boats than that operating," Romelus said.