RI, Australia study fishing

RI, Australia study fishing

JAKARTA: A joint Australian-Indonesian delegation is scheduled to make a visit to Sulawesi and East Nusa Tenggara on Monday to study the problem of illegal fishing by Indonesians in Australian waters.

The delegation, which will be led by Ian Porter of the Australian embassy, will meet with local administration and military officials, as well as local community leaders and fishermen, the Australian embassy announced yesterday.

The delegation will look at ways of informing local fishing communities and officials about Australia's concern over the recent upsurge in illegal fishing by Indonesian fishermen, it said.

Over 120 Indonesian vessels were apprehended for illegally fishing in Australian waters last year.

The visit is aimed at assisting fishing communities in those areas to understand the nature of agreements regulating fishing activities between the two countries.(rms)