NATIONS MUST WORK TOGETHER TO FIGHT FISHERY CRIMES by Fardah

  Jakarta, Oct 13, 2016 (Antara) - Illegal fishing is linked to other criminal activities and can be addressed effectively only if there's a global collaboration to combat it.

         The issue of illegal, unreported and unregulated (IUU) fishing and related crimes, such as drugs smuggling, human trafficking and the smuggling of arms and protected animals, were among the topics discussed at the Second International Symposium on Fisheries Crime, or the FishCRIME Symposium, held in Yogyakarta on October 10.

         Seas are a source of income for 520 million people across the world and provide food to 2.6 billion people.

        However, illegal fishing practices have reduced the world's fish stock by 90.1 percent, said President Joko Widodo (Jokowi) in his opening remark at the symposium.

         Unregulated fishing is a serious threat not just to the fishery industry, but also to the environment.

         Indonesia's experiences are proof that illegal fishing activities cannot be ignored. The country suffers economic losses to the tune of US$20 billion annually because of unregulated fishing. The crime has also threatened the existence of 65 percent of the country's coral reefs.

         Data from the UN Food and Agriculture Organization in 2014 said Indonesia ranks second among the world's largest sea fish producers, with its total catch amounting to 6 million tons, or 6.8 percent of the world's sea fish catch. "We believe that this figure is below Indonesia's maximum potential, (which is affected) due to IUU fishing practices," Jokowi said.

         Jokowi called for a global collaboration to fight illegal fishing, which has become a serious, organized transnational crime.

        Over the past two years, the government has intensified fight against illegal fishing activities and its authorities have detained and sunk 236 fishing boats, mostly foreign ones, for illegal fishing in its waters.

         "And it has shown the results. The fish exploitation rate in Indonesia has dropped between 30 and 35 percent, while its national fish stock increased from 7.3 million tons in 2013 to 9.9 million tons in 2015," Jokowi said.

          Further, during the January-June 2016 period, the country's fish exports surged by 7.34 percent, compared to that during the same period last year.

          "But, we are not satisfied, and want to learn further from the successes of others countries in the fight against IUU fishing," Jokowi said.      
    Sharing the president's view, maritime affairs and fisheries minister Susi Pudjiastuti said that without international cooperation, it is difficult to address the issue of illegal fishing.    
   Indonesia has backed the effort to recognize fishery crime as a transnational and organized crime, in line with the United Nations Convention against Transnational Organized Crime.

        "We believe this recognition facilitates international cooperation against fishery crimes," the minister said.

        The minister hoped the two-day meeting to evolve a common vision in enforcing the law and strengthening cooperation among countries to combat fisheries related crime.

          Around 1,300 licenses issued earlier by the marine and fisheries ministry were reviewed and operations of former foreign fishing vessels stand banned. Various other policies were being followed, Susi added.

           Some regulations previously allowed foreign fishing boats to enter Indonesia, but since Susi Pudjiastuti was named maritime affairs and fisheries minister two years ago, she decided that foreign fishing boats entering Indonesian waters without a permit would be sunk. 
   "As a result, Indonesia's fisheries sector has grown 8.96 percent at a time when other countries such as Thailand, the Philippines recorded a decline in their fisheries sector growth. Fishery exploitation declined by 30-35 percent," she pointed out.

          The tough action is intended to act as a deterrent against foreign vessels poaching in Indonesian waters, she remarked.

          The fight, which has intensified over the past two years, is in line with Law No. 45 Year 2009 on fisheries.  
  The symposium brought together experts, practitioners, government officials and law enforcement officers from 45 countries, to exchange ideas and experiences that can help make a breakthrough in handling cases of fisheries related crime.

         The conference was held by the Government of Indonesia in cooperation with the Government of Norway, the UNODC, and the PescaDOLUS Network at Nelson Mandela Metropolitan University.

          The first symposium was organized in Cape Town, South Africa, in October 2015.

         In addition to international collaboration, an Indonesian NGO has believed that a synergy between the central government and local administrations is crucial for an effective fight against illegal fishing activities in Indonesian waters.

         The government should anticipate foreign fishing boats being camouflaged as local boats, Secretary General of the People's Coalition for Fishery Justice (Kiara) Abdul Halim said.

         In the meantime, a report entitled "The Illegal Fishing and Organized Crime Nexus," commissioned jointly by the Global Initiative with The Black Fish, a Netherlands-based international organisation working to end illegal overfishing, has proven that illicit fishing practices are increasingly taking the form of a highly organized transnational crime.

        In More than 90 percent of the world's fisheries are currently fully or over-exploited.  A 2008 study estimated that the annual global illicit fishing catch was between 11 ¿ 26 million tonnes, equal to more than 1,800 pounds of wild-caught fish stolen from the oceans every second.

        The report concludes that urgent and multilateral action is to be initiated to halt the growing multi-billion dollar illegal fish market.  ***1***
(F001/INE)
EDITED BY INE

(T.F001/A/BESSR/F. Assegaf) 13-10-2016 16:06:18