Task Force 115 Must Continue Their Works, the President Says

President Joko Widodo congratulates participant of National Coordination Meeting on the Task Force 115 on Wednesday (29/6), at the State Palace, Jakarta

The Task Force (Satgas) 115 for Eradicating Illegal Fishing must continue their works for eradicating illegal fishing cases, President Joko ‘Jokowi’ Widodo said.

We must have the consistency to show those illegal fishermen that Indonesia is extremely serious to tackle illegal fishing, the President added.

The statements were made by the President in his directive at the National Coordination Meeting on the  Task Force 115 on Wednesday (29/6) at the State Palace, Jakarta.

The President also added that ego-sectoral is our only weakness in handling illegal fishing and there is no cooperation among ministries and institutions.

“Illegal fishermen saw our weakness, hence they dare to enter our territories. Thousands of illegal vessels enter our country with those considerations. Now, if they want, the vessels can enter the country but they have to encounter the Task Force 115,” President Jokowi said.

On that occasion, the President also expressed his appreciation to the Task Force 115 for capturing illegal vessels and preserve Indonesian marine resources in order to materialize Indonesian maritime vision.

In the meantime, Minister of Maritime Affairs and Fisheries Susi Pudjiastuti said the Task Force 115 has been sinking 176 vessels to date.

“That is such a big number considering illegal fishing in our waters had never dealt by the law in years,” the President added.

At least there used to be 7,000 vessels conducting illegal fishing in Indonesia’s waters that could not be tackled because there was no cohesiveness among the officers of our country, the President stated adding that the Government must maintain the cohesiveness, cooperation, and unity among the apparatus, agencies, and institutions on the field.

“Previously, we did not have those points. People work in their own sectors and there was ego-sectoral. There were never solid, positive, consolidated, and organized cooperation. But now, they will fear us because we are united and consolidated,” the President said.

The President asserted that he does not want to hear any institution/apparatus back up illegal fishing and called on people to take part in the measures to eradicate illegal fishing and to be taught not to cooperate with those involved in illegal fishing.

Measures to address illegal fishing in Indonesia has shown a good result.

The number of fish stock that increases must be utilized. Therefore, good planning must be prepared to develop national fisheries industry that will improve prosperity of fishermen, meet local fish consumption, and bring in foreign exchange in Indonesia’s exports.

Coordinating Minister for Political, Legal, and Security Affairs Luhut Binsar Pandjaitan, Coordinating Minister for Maritime Affairs Rizal Ramli, Minister of Maritime Affairs and Fisheries Susi Pudjiastuti, Minister of Industry Saleh Husin, Minister of Environment and Forestry Siti Nurbaya, Cabinet Secretary Pramono Anung, Minister of Foreign Affairs Retno Marsudi, Minister of Law and Human Rights Yasonna M. Laoly, Attorney General Prasetyo, Indonesian National Police (Polri) Chief Gen, Badrodin Haiti, and Indonesian National Defence Forces (TNI) Commander Gen. Gatot Nurmantyo also attended the meeting. (FID/JAY/ES) (RAS/EP/YM/Naster)