inp.polri.go.id. – Natuna. The Directorate of Water Police (Ditpolair) from Water and Air Police Corps, National Police Security Maintenance Agency of the Republic of Indonesia Baharkam National Police foiled the criminal act of illegal fishing carried out by Vietnamese foreign fishing vessels in Natuna Waters, Riau Islands. In the disclosure, The Directorate of Water Police secured two units of Vietnamese-flagged vessels and 17 crew members who were designated as suspects.
“From the results of the examination of the ships KG 90720 TS and KG 93039 TS, evidence was found in the form of approximately 500 kg of mixed fish and fishing gear in the form of a set of trawl nets from the ship,” explained The Directorate of Water Police (Ditpolair) from Water and Air Police Corps, National Police Security Maintenance Agency of the Republic of Indonesia, Baharkam National Police, Pol. Brigadier General Yassin Kosasih, in a written statement received in Jakarta.
As for the chronology of events, namely, on June 1, 2021, The Directorate of Water Police (Ditpolair) from Water and Air Police Corps, National Police Security Maintenance Agency of the Republic of Indonesia, Baharkam National Police, received information from the Sub-Directorate of Intelligence, that a foreign fishing vessel with a Vietnamese flag was illegally catching fish in Natuna Waters. These fishing vessels tend to enter Indonesian waters at night until the early hours of the morning to make catches.
Illegally catching fish in Natuna Waters. These fishing vessels tend to enter Indonesian waters at night until the early hours of the morning to make catches.
The information is followed up. The Directorate of Water Police (Ditpolair) from Water and Air Police Corps, Baharkam National Police deployed Bisma 8001 to patrol the waters in the North Natura Sea. From the results of the patrol, it was detected that two foreign vessels with Vietnamese flags were fishing illegally in Indonesian waters.
Furthermore, The information is followed up. The Directorate of Water Police (Ditpolair) from the Water and Air Police Corps, Baharkam National Police officers, pursued the foreign fishing boat. The ship registered with the hull number KG 0720 TS was captained by NT, a Vietnamese citizen, and there were 12 crew members. Then KG 93039 TS was commanded by DTT, a Vietnamese citizen, and there were three crew members.
“The modus operandi is that foreign fishing vessels enter Indonesian waters at night to carry out illegal fishing and leave Indonesian waters before sunrise to avoid officers,” he added.
According to one of the ship’s captains, the illegally caught fish were brought and sold in Vietnam.
According to The Directorate of Water Police (Ditpolair) from Water and Air Police Corps, Baharkam National Police, from the disclosure of the illegal fishing case, his party has managed to save the state’s marine assets or wealth as much as 540 tons per year.
The 17 suspects are subject to multiple layers of articles, namely Article 92 in conjunction with Article 26 paragraph (1) section four simplification of sector business licensing as well as facilities and investment requirements in paragraph 2 of the marine and fisheries sector of Law Number 11 of 2020 concerning Job Creation in conjunction with Article 5 paragraph (1) letter B in conjunction with Article 102 of RI Law Number 31 of 2004 concerning Fisheries and or Article 85 in conjunction with Article 9 paragraph (1) in conjunction with Article 5 paragraph (1) letter B in conjunction with Article 102 of RI Law Number 31 of 2004 concerning fisheries as amended and added to the Law of the Republic of Indonesia Number 45 of 2009 concerning amendments to the Law of the Republic of Indonesia Number 31 of 2004 concerning Fisheries in conjunction with Article 55 paragraph (1) 1 of the Criminal Code which carries a penalty of eight years in prison and a fine of IDR 1.5 billion.
