Govt to revise fishing contracts

Govt to revise fishing contracts

JAKARTA: The government will not allow foreign fishing vessels to operate in the country's waters after 2007 unless they agree to process the bulk of their catch domestically, an official said.

Ministry of Maritime Affairs and Fisheries spokesman Aji Sularso said on Friday licenses for vessels from the Philippines, Thailand and China - which expire in 2005, 2006 and 2007 respectively - will not be renewed.

Foreign fishing companies that want to operate in Indonesian waters will have to make an agreement with a local partner to help sell and process 70 percent of their stock, he said.

"This should increase value-added activities and encourage employment in our country," said Aji.

Present agreements are seen as disadvantageous to the local fish processing industry, he said, with foreign vessels bringing the bulk of their catch back to their home countries. -- AP