Jakarta, Ekuatorial – Indonesia’s recent bold move to burn down illegal fishing vessels would not be enough to create deterrent effect, said an activist, in Jakarta, on Thursday (11/12).
Riza Damanik of Indonesian Traditional Fishermen Commission (KNTI) said that burning down vessels would only punish operators, not foreign entrepreneurs or corporations which would bring more strong effect.
“We are only seeing small boats being burned down, meanwhile, large vessels from China left untouched. So, how would that create deterrent effect,” said Damanik adding that ‘selective burned down’ would complicate law enforcement.
Up to date, Ministry of Marine and Fisheries drowned three Vietnamese small boats and confiscated 22 Chinese vessels.
Rachmi Hertanti, head research for Indonesian for Global Justice, agreed that Indonesia needed to enforce the law at the foreign entrepreneur and company level. Illegal fishing, Hertanti said, was part of human rights crime and threaten Indonesia’s sovereignty. “Illegal fishing is an organized corporate crime. Ironically, there is indication that it involves inside mafia in Indonesia,” she said.
Furthermore, she said that illegal fishing conducted by foreign companies was still unregulated by legal in Indonesia and international law. UN Convention only listed five crimes categorized as trans-national crimes, — corruption, money laundering, human trafficking, migrant smuggling, and arms smuggling and dealing –. “But, from criteria of UN Convention, illegal fishing can actually be included as a trans-national crime,” she added.
However, she said there were other ways to punish foreign corporations, such as through bilateral regulation and international diplomacy which condemn illegal fishing.
Meanwhile, Damanik underline on weak implementation of fisheries law in Indonesia. He cited the law had stipulated six years prison time and Rp 20 billion (US$ 1.6 million) for illegal fishing, but not one case was indict using the clause.
He said there should be integrated law enforcement which ensure court decision quality. In addition, Marine Safety Agency should be strengthened to protect Indonesia’s marine resources.
Furthermore, he cited FAO (Food and Agriculture Organization) record that 30 percent of world’s loss due to illegal fishing occurred in Indonesian waters. “It means 30 percent out of US$10-23 billion (Rp124 – Rp 285 trillion) loss from fisheries sector. Meanwhile, Indonesia’s income is only Rp 300 billion (US$ 24 million),” he said adding that ten million jobs in shipping, fishing, processing and fish marketing were lost. Meanwhile, from social sector, he said 116 fishermen were forced to change their professions per day.
“Other right impacted is the right for food. Our average consumption for fish is really low compare to other countries, even Sri Lanka and Bangladesh. It’s contrary to our rich sea resources,” he said. Januar Hakam