Cilacap waters underexploited

Cilacap waters underexploited

CILACAP, Central Java: Cilacap Regent Hery Tabri said here on
Saturday the fishery potential in the area's waters remained
underexploited by local fisherfolk.

Most of the fishery potential is being exploited illegally by
foreign ships, he remarked.

Hery said local fisherfolk were only able to catch some 19,000
tons of the estimated 31,716 tons of fish available each month in
Cilacap's waters.

He added that illegal fishing by foreign ships, especially
those based in Hong Kong, was costing the local fishery industry
billions of rupiah each month.

"Foreign ships eye mainly expensive and commercial fish such
as tuna, and we have difficulty nabbing these ships due to
limited personnel to oversee the area," he said. (45/lup)