Ministry Detains Two Vietnamese Ships in Natuna Sea

Riau – Ministry of Maritime Affairs and Fisheries (KKP) detained two foreign fishing ships from Vietnam in the North Natuna Sea, in Riau Islands Province.

Pung Nugroho Saksono as Director General of the Directorate General of Marine and Fisheries Resources Supervision said the action was based on information from local fishermen.

They said there were two Vietnamese KIA, BV 4417 TS (100 GT) and BV 1182 TS (66 GT) who carried out illegal fishing using trawl fishing gear in Natuna Sea.

"This action was carries out by the ORCA 02 monitoring vessel. When they were seized, the two Vietnamese KIA captains were unable to show various valid fishing permit documents," Saksono stated in Batam on Sunday.

After taking action, the two Vietnamese KIA carrying 20 crew members were immediately taken to the Batam the Directorate General of Marine and Fisheries Resources Supervision base.

"We respinded quickly to complaints from fishermen and the public at 9:30 a.m. local time, the operation to arrest Vietnamese KIA was successful and we succeeded in stopping, inspecting and detaining 2 KIA units with Vietnamese flags," Saksono remarked.

Saksoko added that after taking action, investigators from his team has found 15 tons of fish in the storage area of two confiscated Vietnamese KIA.

"About catch, maybe 10 tons, the other side maybe 5 tons. However, the ship uses a trawl and this damage the existing coral reefs. The ecological damage is greater than the economic damage. This is what we have to protect," he explained.

Due to the illegal fishing carried out by these two Vietnamese KIA, the two captains were named as suspects and charged under Article 92 in conjunction with Article 26 paragraph (1) Article 98 in conjunction with Article 42 paragraph (3) Maritime and Fisheries Sector Law No. 6 of 2023 concerning Determination of Perppu Number 2 of 2022 concerning Job Creation.