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                Indonesia Touts Sinking of Illegal Fishing Ships

   by Andy Lala

   Indonesia says a new policy to sink illegal fishing ships has been a
   success so far.

   President Joko Widodo, widely known as Jokowi, Wednesday said the
   problem was costing the country too much money.

   "Therefore I instructed the ministry, the military commander, that this
   couldn't continue.  I instructed them three or four weeks ago to sink
   ships involved in illegal fishing. Sink them! No more! But thank Allah,
   last Friday, we started sinking several ships," he said.

   Susi Pudjiastuti, the Fisheries and Maritime Affairs minister, said the
   move has caused a dramatic drop in foreign ships operating near
   Indonesia's Natuna islands without harming relations with neighboring
   countries.

   She added that in the future, the plan is to permanently confiscate the
   ships.

   "When there is a deterrent effect, why should we keep sinking ships?
   It's better to seize them for the country and give them to Indonesian
   fishermen," said Pudjiastuti.

   Since Friday, Indonesia has detained and sunk at least three ships from
   Vietnam.

   On Sunday, officials said they seized 22 Chinese vessels suspected of
   illegal fishing.  It is not clear if authorities plan to sink the
   vessels or confiscate them.

   Vietnam and China have not publicly commented on Indonesia's move to
   sink foreign fishing ships.

   Indonesia, an archipelago of thousands of islands, estimates it loses
   millions of dollars each year because of illegal fishing involving
   foreign vessels.

   This report was produced in collaboration with the VOA Indonesian
   service.

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References

   1. http://www.voanews.com/content/indonesia-touts-sinking-of-illegal-fishing-ships/2554087.html