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