Indonesia's navel vessels (Photo:maritime-executive.com) Jakarta (VNA) – Indonesia and the US will carry out joint patrols around Indonesian waters to combat human trafficking and illegal fishing, Indonesian Minister of Marine Affairs and Fisheries Susi Pudjastuti said on September 21.
According to a press statement from the ministry, the plan was discussed during a meeting between Indonesia's Minister of Marine Affairs and Fisheries Susi Pudjastuti and the US Undersecretary of Commerce for Oceans and Atmosphere Kathryn Sullivan in Washington last week.
The plan will be discussed in further detail between the two countries’ high ranking officials.
The minister highlighted the problem that the “thousands islands” country faces of foreign fishing boats fishing in Indonesian waters and not sending their catches to land but transfering them to other smaller boats.
Illegal fishing has been on the rise in Indonesian waters. On August 17, Indonesia sank 60 vessels which had been illegally fishing in the country’s territorial waters, 58 of them foreign boats.
Indonesia has sunk 236 vessels, mostly foreign fishing boats, since December 2014.-VNA
