Some 180 foreign fishing vessels impounded in 2009

Pontianak (ANTARA News) - A total of 180 foreign fishing vessels were intercepted by the Maritime Resources and Fisheries Directorate General (P2SDKP) in cooperation with the Navy and Police in 2009, a senior official said.

P2SDKP Director General Aji Sularso said here on Wednesday that the 180 foreign fishing boats were captured for poaching in Indonesian waters.

Code-named "Operasi Samudra Lestari 2009", the operations involved four units of vessels of the Ministry of Maritime and Fisheries Affairs (DKP), five warships of the Navy, four units of the police and a maritime reconnaissance aircraft. The operations were conducted mainly in Natuna and South China Seas, he said.

He said that the operations successfully saved a loss of about Rp720 billion to the state, based on an estimate that one vessel would cause a loss of Rp4 billion.
Most of the fishing boats which were taken into custody came from Thailand, Vietnam, China and Malaysia, he said.(*)