REPUBLIKA.CO.ID, JAKARTA -- The Indonesian Chamber of Commerce and Industry (Kadin) has urged Maritime Affairs and Fisheries Minister Susi Pudjiastuti to focus more on industrialization of the fishery sector in cooperation with the private sector.

"It has been three years over with our seas abundant with fish, but the wealth has been left untapped," deputy chairman of Kadin Andi Rukman Karumpa said here on Wednesday.

Andi said the world already knows the country is determined to protect its fish resources but what does it means if the wealth was not used for the welfare of the country.

He called on the minister to start focusing more on increasing fish production and launching industrialization of the fishery sector through cooperation with the private sector.

Susi has been known for her tough policy exploding and sinking hundreds of foreign fishing vessels found operating illegally in Indonesian waters over the past three years.

Coordinating Minister for Maritime Affairs Luhut Panjaitan has asked Susi to stop sinking ships saying instead of sinking the ships they could be confiscated for the state.

Luhut said it was enough sinking ships and now the government should focus on increasing fish production to help boost exports.

Andi said he agreed with Luhut that ships found operating illegally in Indonesian waters should be confiscated for the state.

"The era of marketing has been over. The ships would be more useful if they are given to fishermen than sending them to the sea bed. They are good and modern vessels," he said.

Susi, in her reaction to the decision of the Coordinating Minister for Maritime Affairs, said the sinking of the ships is regulated in a Fishery Law No. 45/2009.

She said the law authorize fishery authorities to take special measure such as by exploding or sinking foreign fishing ships operating illegally in Indonesian waters.

"It is not my wish as a minister to sink the poachers' ships but it is done on verdict of the court.

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