Sorong, Ekuatorial – Indonesian government sank down another ship caught stealing fish in Misool water areas of Raja Ampat district, West Papua, said an official, on Tuesday (10/2).
Thanh Cong 99612, a 330 tons Vietnam ship, was caught stealing and storing 44 dead turtles, 400 kg of fish, 700 kg of dried stingrays, 200 kg dried sharks and 19 kg shark fins, in Misool water area on January 19. Raja Ampat police have declared all crews as suspects, meanwhile Sorong District Court ordered to destroy the ship and all evidence on January 28.
“We’re destroying all evidence by blowing up Thanh Cong ship which had been caught stealing fish using gillnet,” said Crezman Mulalinda, head of Raja Ampat water police, on Tuesday (10/2). The ship was sank down at 300 meters from Saonek Monde Island of Dampier Strait.
Marcus Wanma, head of Raja Ampat district said that not only Thanh Cong sank down but all ships with illegal activities will be drowned. Wanma added that they were coordinating with other stakeholders to participate in monitoring and reporting for any violations in his territory.
West Papua head police, Paulus Waterpauw said that this was a warning for illegal fishers in Raja Ampat.
Meanwhile, green activities welcome government’s action in sinking down the ship as part of battling illegal fishing.
“The government has proven its seriousness in dealing with illegal fishing in Raja Amoat water areas which have been targeted by foreign ships,” said Christian Thebu, Manajer Bird Head Seascape-Marine Protection Area (BHS-MPA), an NGO based in Raja Ampat.
Thebu added that government needed to be serious in handling illegal fishing because most of Raja Ampat people depended on its ocean. Niken Proboretno