RI's 2001 fish exports $1.17 billion

JAKARTA: Indonesia's fishing exports for 2001 were worth US$1.17 billion, down 0.84 percent from the previous year as illegal fishing continued to plague the industry.

The government said that illegal fishing could be inflicting losses of between $1 billion and $4 billion a year.

"Illegal fishing may involve up to 1.5 million tons of fish per year," a government statement said on Wednesday.

A major menace to the local fishing industry is the presence of foreign fishing vessels in Indonesian territorial waters and the violation of export regulations.

Undetected fish exports by foreign companies could be inflicting up to $1.2 billion in losses to the state, according to the government. -- JP.