REPUBLIKA.CO.ID, JAKARTA -- President Joko Widodo (Jokowi) has lauded the Task Force on Illegal Fishing, or Task Force 115, for detaining illegal fishing vessels in the Indonesian waters.

"I want to reward and laud the high achievement of the Task Force 115 in catching illegal fishing vessels and foreign ships and in maintaining our marine resources," President Jokowi stated at the State Palace in Jakarta on Wednesday.

The president also expressed pride on the good teamwork and on-field cooperation. He commended the sense of unity among the related officers and institutions.

President Jokowi emphasized that good teamwork should be maintained as it had not been followed since a long time.

"We have worked a lot in each individual sector. There has never been good, consolidated, and organized teamwork, which can demonstrate a strong sense of unity among the officers," the president affirmed.

Based on the information from the marine and fisheries minister that was conveyed to the president, as many as 176 illegal foreign fishing ships have been sunk.

The president said the figure was large as compared to that in other countries.

"For years, illegal fishing practices have been prevalent in our waters and seas, and our laws have not been able to curb them," President Jokowi stated.

The president has monitored that at least seven thousand vessels pass through the Indonesian waters daily and practice illegal fishing due to the lack of solid teamwork among officers.

"I once heard an officer saying that, sir, we are now proud as foreign ships that poached resources of our oceans now fear us," the president added.

The president emphasized that law enforcement measures in the Indonesian maritime territory should be undertaken on an ongoing basis.

"Do not stop; it should not be stopped. Consistency is essential in order to demonstrate that we are serious, and we take things very seriously," President Jokowi added.

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