Councillor complains of illegal fishing

Councillor complains of illegal fishing

AMBON, Maluku: Golkar councillor Rahman Holle accused on Tuesday
businesspeople from Java of illegally purchasing fish from
Maluku, depriving the provincial government of needed revenue.

The businesspeople buy the fish directly from boats out at
sea, thus avoiding having to pay taxes to the provincial
government, said Rahman.

"The fish are then transported back to Java, especially East
Java," he said.

The head of the Fisheries and Maritime Affairs Agency in
Maluku, Romelus Far-Far, said his office was dispatching ships to
try and end the illegal practice, but was having trouble because
of the size of Maluku's waters. -- JP