RI's 2001 fish exports $1.17 billion

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.