Jakarta (ANTARA) - Indonesia has apprehended 62 illegal foreign fishing vessels in the Riau Islands, including the North Natuna Sea, between 2020 and June 2025, an official confirmed.“In total, 147 vessels have been seized—85 Indonesian and 62 foreign,” said PSDKP Director General of Marine and Fisheries Resources Surveillance (PSDKP) at the Ministry of Marine Affairs and Fisheries (KKP) Pung Nugroho Saksono in Jakarta on Sunday
He credited community and fisher reports for the success in intercepting foreign vessels, emphasizing that tips from the Community Supervisory Group (POKMASWAS) have proven crucial in combatting illegal fishing in border areas.
“This strategy has been highly effective in the North Natuna Sea,” Saksono noted, adding that the integrated surveillance approach has helped prevent state losses of up to Rp2.1 trillion (approx. 129.7 million US dollars).
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Despite the results, he highlighted limitations in operational capacity—only three of the seven surveillance vessels assigned to Fisheries Management Area (WPP-NRI) 711 are capable of reaching the North Natuna Sea.
He also pointed to infrastructure gaps such as limited docks, crew facilities, and unloading access for seized catches as ongoing challenges.
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Saksono urged Commission IV of the House of Representatives (DPR) to support efforts in strengthening surveillance in the North Natuna Sea.
Previously, KKP Minister Sakti Wahyu Trenggono underscored plans to enhance monitoring through upgrades to the ministry’s satellite-based integrated surveillance system.
