REPUBLIKA.CO.ID, TIMIKA -- The Indonesian Navy has tightened security in the Arafura Sea off Papua to prevent illegal fishing activities in the waters.

Local fishermen were allowed to fish in the Arafura Sea as long as they use environment-friendly fishing equipment, Commander of the Timika Naval Base Lt Col Victor Siagian stated here, Friday.

Siagian noted that fishing vessels weighing 100-200 gross tons from Central and East Java could also fish in the Arafura waters as long as they have changed their fishing permits.

"They could fish in the Arafura waters though they must first change their fishing permits before operating, or else they would be charged with committing illegal fishing activities akin to foreign fishing ships," he emphasized.

The Navy officer affirmed that the documents of all fishing ships operating in Arafura would be checked.

He also called on traditional fishermen to report to the Naval base if they spotted foreign fishing ships in the Arafura Sea.

The Arafura Sea, located in southern Papua and southeast Maluku, is a "haven" for foreign fishing vessels illegally entering the Indonesian maritime territory as the sea has abundant fish stocks, he pointed out.

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