REPUBLIKA.CO.ID, JAKARTA -- Indonesian President Joko Widodo (Jokowi) expressed optimism that the handling of illegal fishing in Indonesia's waters has begun yielding positive results.

"Sea fish stocks are rising, and this (opportunity) should be utilized. Hence, we need to ensure good planning and preparation to develop a fishing industry in order to improve the welfare of the fishermen, meet the local fish consumption needs, and to also draw foreign exchange from our exports," President Jokowi stated here while giving a briefing to the participants of the National Coordination Meeting of Task Force on Illegal Fishing at the State Palace on Wednesday.

The president also urged the fishing industry to conduct modernization, especially in terms of processing and canning, thereby providing significant added value for the nation's development, especially in terms of employment.

Hence, President Jokowi highlighted the importance of providing supporting infrastructure, such as roads, ports, electricity, and land for the processing industry.

"I think every governor can start providing land for setting up the processing industry as I believe investment will soon come from partnerships among private sector companies or between state-owned firms and the private sector to establish a modern fishery industry," he pointed out.

The president remarked that there were currently huge opportunities in the fishery sector.

"Demand from abroad is high, including for exports. This opportunity must be utilized optimally. Therefore, we should not only safeguard the wealth of our oceans but also utilize the marine resources for the welfare of the common people," he stated.

President Jokowi admitted that cross-sectoral ego had since long been Indonesia's drawback due to which there was a lack of inter-ministerial and inter-agency cooperation.

Therefore, he emphasized the importance of enforcing the law and prosecuting security officers found supporting the practice of illegal fishing.

"People should also be educated to not collaborate with the actors of illegal fishing, and it should become part of the efforts to combat illegal fishing," the president stated.

Based on data from Indonesia's Ministry of Maritime Affairs and Fisheries throughout 2015 until June 2016, the government had detained and sunk 176 ships found conducting illegal fishing in the Indonesian waters.

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