Indonesia warns foreign ship against illegal fishing

The Indonesian government on Wednesday gave a warning to foreign ships wishing to intrude the country's waters for illegal fishing.

Indonesian President Joko Widodo told a cabinet meeting that stern actions will be applied to the intruders of the country's territory.

The president disclosed that the government has stepped up efforts to anticipate such violation at sea, including establishment of a special force (Satgas 115) to face the criminal acts, and a settlement of several weaknesses in efforts to fight against the foreign intruders in the past.

"Now, please intrude (Indonesia's waters), if they want to take risks from the Satgas 115," President Widodo said at the State Palace.

Under President Widodo's leadership, Indonesia has sunk 162 foreign ships engaging in illegal fishing in the country's waters, according to fishery ministry.

Fishery Minister Susi Pudjiastuti said on Wednesday that most of the ships were from Vietnam, Malaysia, the Philippines and Thailand.

The minister has said that the country's policy has been fruitful as Indonesia's fish outputs have risen significantly in recent months.

Next month, 30 others ships will be drowned by the special force for such violation in Indonesia's territory, Minister Pudjiastuti revealed at the palace.

President Widodo, who come into office in October 2014, issued the policy months after taking office following reports of rampant illegal fishing in the country's waters that has led Indonesia suffering a huge economic loss.

The president unveiled that over 5,400 ships illegally exploit Indonesia's resources at sea every year.

Indonesia is an archipelago country, with about 17,500 islands.

(APD)