Fishermen Await Commitment Realization

Kompas/Wawan H Prabowo

A military member stands guard as President Joko Widodo inspects the readiness of KRI Usman Harun (359) warship at the Port of Lampa Strait in Natuna regency, Riau Islands, Wednesday (8/1/2020). In front of KRI Usman Harun, the President said that his visit was to ensure law enforcement of the country\'s sovereign rights over the wealth of marine resources in Indonesia\'s Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ).

NATUNA, KOMPAS — Fishermen in Natuna, Riau Islands, await the realization of a long-term program and solution for fish theft by foreign vessels in Indonesia’s exclusive economic zone (EEZ) in North Natuna. The solution must also be friendly to the people\'s livelihoods.

Natuna fishermen have demanded the government program ensure Natuna fishermen are not displaced.

"As long as there are a lot of them, small ships can also ward off foreign fishermen. What needs to be done now is to empower traditional fishermen so they can sail to the EEZ safely," said Natuna fisherman leader Rodhial Huda in Natuna, Thursday (9/1/2020).

Almost all Natuna fishermen use traditional fishing methods such as fishing lines to catch reef fish.

President Joko Widodo on Wednesday (8/1) visited Natuna to show the government\'s commitment to upholding Indonesia\'s sovereign rights over the EEZ. The government will increase patrols to enforce the law at Indonesia\'s EEZ in North Natuna. At that time, Chinese vessels that stole fish and were escorted by Chinese coast guard ships began to exit Indonesia’s EEZ in North Natuna.

Expelled

Adri, 41, a fisherman in Natuna, said fishermen felt they had been driven out of their own sea after illegal fishing vessels returned to the North Natuna Sea in the past months. Often the fishermen had to cut anchors to escape for fear of being dragged by the trawlers of the foreign ships.

Almost all Natuna fishermen use traditional fishing methods such as fishing lines to catch reef fish. With vessels measuring 5 tons to 7 tons, they sail to the EEZ to catch high-value fish such red snapper, grouper and sunu.

Ironically, the theft was done openly in the presence of local fishermen almost every day throughout December 2019. According to another fisherman, Rudi, 30, the foreign ships clustered together at night and looked like an island in the North Natuna Sea.

KOMPAS/EMANUEL EDI SAPUTRA

Maritime and Fisheries Minister Edhy Prabowo talks with local authorities about the arrest of three Vietnamese vessels that stole fish in the North Natuna Sea, on Thursday (9/1/2020). During the skirmish, Vietnamese fishermen fought back by crashing into Indonesia’s surveillance ship, causing some damages.

Anticipated

Joint Defense Area Command (Kogabwilhan) I commander Rear Adm. Yudo Margono said that around 30 Chinese fishermen who had stolen fish in Indonesia’s EEZ had moved north. This was known through the TNI’s aerial monitoring.

There were still two Chinese coast guard ships in the EEZ region on Thursday morning. "However, the coast guard ships continue to move toward the Malaysian border," he said.

However, Indonesian Military (TNI) spokesman Maj. Gen. Sisriadi said Indonesia had not reduced its vigilance. Indonesian military forces in the form of eight Indonesian warships and four F-16 fighter jets remain on alert and are taking turns patrolling Natuna.

Coordinating Political, Legal and Security Affairs Minister Mahfud MD said with the exit of the Chinese ships from EEZ, we no longer need to fuss about it. "It is time for us to fill Natuna with socio-economic and government activities proportionally so that it is not empty," he said.

According to him, the policies undertaken by the government, ranging from facilitating fishermen from the north coast of Java to go to the sea in Natuna as well as sending reinforcements from the military and the Maritime Security Agency, were steps Indonesia would take.