REPUBLIKA.CO.ID, JAKARTA -- Indonesia's Minister of Fisheries and Marine Resources Susi Pudjiastuti plans to visit fishermen's villages in various regions in the country as part of a campaign against destructive fishing practices.
"We will reach across to the fishermen to campaign against 'destructive' fishing practices, such as fish bombing activities," she said at a press conference here on Monday.
The minister stated that massive bombing practices were still happening in places such as Anambas, Natuna and East Nusa Tenggara and she had received videos of such instances.
She disclosed that her ministry plans to sink 71 fishing boats, caught indulging in illegal fishing in the country's waters, on August 17.
She declared plans to set up a 'monument' to remind people of the harm that illegal fishing does and to underscore the importance of eradicating this criminal menace that has assumed global proportions.
The monument is expected to be set in Pangandaran, West Java, close to a local museum.
The minister pointed out that the world is now aware of the danger that illegal fishing poses and Indonesia has already issued many policies to fight it.
"The world is already aware. The FAO is also supporting us in including illegal fishing in various agreements," she informed.
She underlined that Indonesia is a big country and is among the three biggest democracies in the world with the fifth largest population and the second largest waters in the world.
She said President Joko Widodo wished to make the sea the future of the nation and to make the country the world's maritime axis.
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