inp.polri.go.id – Batam. Patrol Boat of the Directorate of Water and Air Police of Security Maintenance Agency of Indonesian National Police, KP Bisma – 8001, successfully seized four Vietnam-flagged Foreign Fishing Boats (KIA) that steals fish in the Northern Natuna Sea. The four boats conducted illegal fishing in the Northern Natuna Sea and have fished one ton of fish.
The news was delivered by the Chief of Security Maintenance Agency of Indonesian National Police, Police General Commissioner Arief Sulistyanto, accompanied by Chief Coordinator of Water and Air Police of Security Maintenance Agency of Indonesian National Police, Police Inspector General Verdianto I Bitticaca; Chief of Riau Islands Regional Police, Police Inspector General Aris Budiman; Director of Water Police of Water and Police Corps of Security Maintenance Agency of Indonesian National Police, Police Brigadier General Mohammad Yasin Kosasih; Director General of Marine and Fishery Resource Observation, Armed Forces Rear Admiral Adin Nurawaluddin; Director of Fleet Supervision and Operation; Director of PP; and Chief of Main Service Office of Batam Customs during a press conference in the Pier of Batu Ampar Harbour, Batam city, on Tuesday (31/8/2021).
Chronologically, according to the Chief of Security Maintenance Agency of Indonesian National Police, on August 27, 2021, Patrol Boat of the Directorate of Water and Air Police of Security Maintenance Agency of Indonesian National Police, KP Bisma – 8001, arrested four Vietnam-flagged KIA. Those boats are secured in Natuna waters of Riau Islands Province.
The KIA has also conducted illegal fishing in the Northern Natuna Sea, which is in the Indonesian Exclusive Economic Zone and is automatically in Indonesian waters. Now, those KIA have been pulled to the pier together with 40 people consisting of 36 crews and four skippers, four boats, and the evidence of one ton of stolen fish.
“We deploy nine boats under the command of the Chief of Riau Islands Regional Police. Out of those nine units, I place one High Officer with Brigadier General rank as the supervisor and controller, and also coordinates with the Chief of Riau Islands Regional Police to collaborate in maritime security”, Chief of Security Maintenance Agency of Indonesian National Police said.
Chief of Security Maintenance Agency also said that collaboration and synergy with other institutions such as Directorate General of Marine and Fishery Resource Observation, Indonesian Naval Forces, and Customs are required to secure the sea of the Republic of Indonesia and its natural wealth inside not to be stolen by irresponsible people, even though those institutions work under different Law.
Meanwhile, Director General of Marine and Fishery Resource Observation, Armed Forces Rear Admiral Adin Nurawaluddin, said, “We implement the mandate of the Law being given to us and there is no word of ‘no’ and compromises in eradicating illegal fishing in the Republic of Indonesia”, Director General of Marine and Fishery Resource Observation, Armed Forces Rear Admiral Adin Nurawaluddin said.
When asked by the media about the state’s loss in this illegal fishing, the Director of Water Police of the Security Maintenance Agency of Indonesian National Police estimated more than Rp1 trillion of annual loss from those four fishing boats alone.
The four Vietnam-flagged fishing boats conducted illegal fishing in the Northern Natuna Sea and stole one ton of fish using the trawl net that could destroy the sea of the Riau Islands.
“There are 36 crew members and four skippers, all Vietnamese. We detained them in the Directorate of Water and Air Police of Riau Islands Regional Police. We would later hand them over to the investigators of the Directorate General of Marine and Fishery Resource Observation”, Director of Water Police of Water and Police Corps of Security Maintenance Agency of Indonesian National Police said.
