IUU Fishing Brings ‘Global and Extraordinary’ Impacts, President Jokowi Says

By Office of Assistant to Deputy Cabinet Secretary for State Documents & Translation     Date 10 Oktober 2016
Category: News
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President Jokowi opens the 2nd International Symposium on Fisheries Crime at Gedung Agung, Yogyakarta Presidential Palace, Monday (10/10). (Photo by: Agus/Public Relations Division)

President Jokowi opens the 2nd International Symposium on Fisheries Crime at Gedung Agung, Yogyakarta Presidential Palace, Monday (10/10). (Photo by: Agus/Public Relations Division)

President Joko ‘Jokowi’ Widodo said that more countries and international institutions are now aware that the cases of Illegal, Unregulated, and Unreported (IUU) Fishing have become a transnational crime that bring ‘global and extraordinary’ impacts.

According to President Jokowi, negative impacts of those cases not only affect fisheries industries but also the environment. “We know that more countries and international institutions are now aware that IUU Fishing has become a transnational crime that brings extraordinary, global, and negative impacts, not only for the fisheries industries but also for the environment,” President Jokowi said at the opening ceremony of the 2ndInternational Symposium on Fisheries Crime, at Gedung Agung, Yogyakarta Presidential Palace, Monday (10/10) morning.

“The practice of illegal fishing has depleted global fish supply by around 90.1 percent. In addition, illegal fishing is also related to other crimes such as goods and drugs smuggling as well as violates regulations on the protection of nature,” the President added.

On that occasion, President Jokowi also reminded that IUU Fishing has developed into an organized and serious transnational crime and if it persists, the sustainability of the earth will be threatened. Therefore, President Jokowi said that it is crucial to fight against this organized transnational crime with global collaboration.

President Jokowi further said that Indonesia should also do something to tackle the issue. According to the President, IUU Fishing has caused financial losses worth US$20 billion per year and threatened 65% of Indonesia’s coral reefs.

In the past two years, Indonesia has continued itsfight against IUU fishing including the arrest and the sinking of 236 illegal vessels that were allegedly involved in IUU Fishing, President Jokowi said.

As a result, the President added, fish exploitation in Indonesia has dropped by around 30 – 35%; thus enabling the country to increaseits national fish supply from 7.3 million tons in 2013 into 9.9 millionin 2015. In addition, since January until June 2016, Indonesia reported a rise in fishery product exports by 7.34% compared to that in the same period in 2015.

Nonetheless, President Jokowi called on all sides not to be complacent. He asserted that Indonesia wants to continue learning from other countries in the fight against IUU Fishing and Indonesia will also be glad to share its experiences with other countries in tackling IUU Fishing.

President Jokowi further said that Indonesia is honored to receive trust from the international community to host the Symposium as it serves as proof of commitment and a joint action to address IUU Fishing.

Joining the President at the opening ceremony were First Lady Ibu Iriana Joko Widodo, Yogyakarta Governor Sri Sultan Hamengkubuwono X, Minister of Maritime Affairs and Fisheries Susi Pudjiastuti, and Minister of State Secretary Pratikno. (DNS/AGG/ES) (EP/YM/Naster)

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