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)