Manado, Ekuatorial – Foreign fishermen revealed that Indonesians were involved in falsifying documents of foreign vessels to fish in North Sulawesi waters.
“Fake documents were forged by Indonesian agents in Sangihe Talaud, in Esang island. Then, we were told to sold those documents to the Philippines for 30,000 peso or Rp 6 million per one document to set sail,” said Jerfy Makaso, a 25 year old resident of Balut Saranggani Island, Davao, Philippines, while being interrogated at Bitung Marine Resources and Fisheries Monitoring (PSDKP) detention room recently.
Furthermore, he said that an agent would sell one illegal document for vessels to fish in Indonesia.
Meanwhile, other crew, Pastor Sirelia of General Santos, admitted the captured vessel belong to a resident of Wangurer Bitung.
Sirelia said that it was their second time illegally fishing in North Sulawesi since January 2015.
“Our fishing areas were Makalehi waters. The first, we did not get caught and was able to catch 12 tuna fish with at least 40 kilograms per fish,” he said.
Both admitting that the process to get illegal documents went smooth because it was involving Indonesians.
Sere Alina Tampubolon, director of Fisheries Resources Monitoring, Ministry of Marine and Fisheries, said that illegal documents issued by Indonesian agents would be considered as harsh violation.
“If it’s legal [document] then it will follow through procedures. If not, then it’s illegal. It’s such a shameful that our own people sold [those illegal documents]”, said Tampubolon.
Up to date, at least six vessels, — Pamboat Fortuna 05, FBAC Arnavat, Tiberias 2, KM Elsaday 02, KM Valffranze and M/BCA Daeny –, are being investigated at Bitung PSDKP. While one boat, KM Tuna Jaya is still docked in Bitung. Yoseph Ikanubun