Fish poaching harms local fishermen

SAMARINDA, East Kalimantan: Fishing grounds in the northern part of East Kalimantan are still subject to widespread poaching by a number of fishermen from Malaysia. In 2002, security forces succeeded in intercepting seven Malaysian fishing vessels that were using large trawling nets that could destroy marine life.

Head of the East Kalimantan Marine and Fisheries Office Khaerani Saleh told The Jakarta Post that the limited territorial security surveillance at borders could stimulate poaching by Malaysian fishermen in the northern part of the province.

He added that fish poaching in the border areas had left a serious impact on local fishermen, who were not well equipped compared with those from overseas or other parts of the nation.

Their vessels were only 10 gross tons at most, and could only operate up to four nautical miles from the shore. The more superior foreign vessels, some reaching 30 tons gross, could operate more than 12 miles offshore. -- JP