Tanjungpinang, Riau Islands (ANTARA) – The Maritime Affairs and Fisheries Ministry is aiding the licensing of fishing boats in Riau Islands Province after receiving a request from local fishermen through Governor Ansar Ahmad.
Head of the Riau Islands Maritime Affairs and Fisheries Office Tengku Said Arif Fadillah commended the ministry for helping fishing boat owners obtain fishing boat permits in an easier manner.
“There are about 700 fishing boats in Riau Islands with a capacity of more than 5 GT that require a permit,” he informed in a statement delivered in Tanjungpinang on Monday.
Recently, the ministry issued a policy, under which the processing of fishing boat licensing was shifted from the Harbormaster’s Office to the ministry’s office. This made it difficult for fishing boat owners to obtain permits.
They then complained to the Riau Islands Maritime Affairs and Fisheries Office and Commission II of the Riau Islands’ House of Representatives.
Riau Islands fishermen could not sail to catch fish if they did not have a certificate of eligibility for their fishing boats. This impeded their productivity.
In response to this problem, Fadillah and the chairman of Commission II of the Riau Islands’ House of Representatives, Wahyu Wahyudin, conveyed the fishermen’s concerns to the ministry after Governor Ansar Ahmad submitted a request for authorizing the handing back of fishing boat licensing to the Tanjungpinang Harbormaster’s Office.
“The Maritime Affairs and Fisheries Ministry was very quick to respond to the interests of fishermen in Riau Islands. Just at the end of last month did we report the fishermen’s complaints and propose solutions, then last week, the Maritime Affairs and Fisheries Ministry gave a positive response that benefited the Riau Islands fishermen,” Fadillah informed.
The ministry then collaborated with the Riau Islands Maritime Affairs and Fisheries Office to establish a fishing vessel licensing service outlet. Currently, the two institutions are building two service outlets, one in the Riau Islands Maritime Affairs and Fisheries Office and another in Karimun District.
The service outlets were open for three days. They will close on Monday once all fishing boat licensing applications are processed.
They could still be kept open should there be any fishermen who need them, including service outlets in Natuna and Anambas District and Lingga District.
The certificate issued by the ministry is only valid for one year. Through the service outlets, officers have not only served fishermen whose certificates are no longer valid, but also fishermen whose certificates will expire in three months.
“We gave two options as solutions to the ministry. First, the (licensing) authority would be handed over to us, and the second option would be to (let the policy) remain under the authority of the ministry, but (the implementation of) services would be conducted in Riau Islands. The second option (was chosen) by the ministry,” he said.
It only takes one day to obtain a certificate of eligibility for a fishing boat, except in the case of new boats, which need to be inspected by officers.
“The service is very fast because the Riau Islands Maritime Affairs and Fisheries Office has six certified staff who assist the Maritime Affairs and Fisheries Ministry staff in providing the services,” he added.
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