Jakarta (ANTARA) – Indonesia’s Ministry of Marine Affairs and Fisheries (KKP) has prevented potential state losses of Rp360 billion by apprehending 92 vessels engaged in illegal fishing through early August 2026, an official said on Tuesday.
Pung Nugroho Saksono, Director General of Marine and Fisheries Resources Surveillance (PSDKP) at the ministry, said illegal fishing has made it more difficult for small-scale fishers to catch fish because offenders typically operate larger vessels with greater fishing capacity.
“Globally this year, through early August, we have apprehended 92 illegal fishing vessels,” Saksono said in Jakarta.
He said the enforcement actions had prevented potential state losses of Rp360 billion, compared with Rp774 billion recorded for the whole of 2025.
Indonesia will continue strengthening surveillance of its waters to reduce and eventually eliminate illegal fishing, which has made it difficult for small-scale fishers to catch fish, he said.
“This shows that if we fail to protect the resources we have, we will lose them forever,” Saksono said.
Meanwhile, North Maluku Governor Sherly Tjoanda said illegal fishing and the deployment of unauthorized fish aggregating devices (FADs) had made it increasingly difficult for small-scale fishers to catch fish.
She said the North Maluku provincial government is working with the Ministry of Marine Affairs and Fisheries to strengthen protection for small-scale fishers in the province.
“We are doing this to improve the welfare and fishers’ terms of trade in North Maluku,” Sherly said after the signing of a cooperation agreement between the ministry and the North Maluku provincial government to strengthen surveillance of marine and fisheries resources.
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Translator: Khaerul Izan, Martha Herlinawati Simanjuntak
Editor: Azis Kurmala
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