Biak (ANTARA) – The Indonesian Ministry of Marine Affairs and Fisheries (KKP) has apprehended two illegal fishing vessels from the Philippines in the northern Pacific Ocean off the coast of Biak, Papua. A total of 32 Filipino crew members were detained during the operation.
Director General of Marine and Fisheries Resources Surveillance (PSDKP) at KKP, Pung Nugroho Saksono, stated during a press conference in Biak on Friday (May 9) that the operation was conducted by the patrol vessel Hiu Macan 04, captained by Jendri Erwin Mamahit, and coordinated under the Biak PSDKP Monitoring Station.
“The two vessels, identified as FB TWIN J-04 (130.12 GT) and FB YANREYD-293 (116 GT), were found operating without permits from the Indonesian government,” said Pung, who is widely known as Ipunk.
Upon inspection, authorities discovered catches of tuna and skipjack aboard the vessels. The TWIN J-04, carrying 25 crew members, served as the main fishing vessel and had approximately 10 kilograms of skipjack on board. Meanwhile, YANREYD-293, with 7 crew members, functioned as the transport vessel carrying around five tons of fish.
Both vessels were equipped with large-scale purse seine fishing gear, known for its high efficiency in catching pelagic fish such as tuna, mackerel, and skipjack. However, this method also poses ecological risks, including the capture of juvenile fish like baby tuna, potentially threatening fish stock sustainability.
“The operation is estimated to have saved the state from economic losses amounting to Rp50.4 billion (approximately USD 3.1 million),” Ipunk revealed.
He added that the case would be handled through legal proceedings by the Fishery Civil Servant Investigators (PPNS) under the Biak PSDKP.
Director of Fleet Operations Control, Syaiful, explained that the perpetrators used a “hit and run” tactic—fishing near border areas and swiftly moving in and out of Indonesian waters to evade detection. The two vessels operated in coordination, with one catching fish and the other transporting them.
“At the time of capture, TWIN J-04 had just transferred its catch to the transport vessel YANREYD,” Syaiful added.
Head of the Biak PSDKP Station, Mochamad Erwin, confirmed that the ship captains would be named as suspects. Under Law No. 6/2023, which ratifies the Job Creation Regulation in lieu of Law No. 2/2022, the offenders face up to six years in prison and fines of up to Rp30 billion (approximately USD 1.9 million).
As part of the government’s Blue Economy policy, Minister of Marine Affairs and Fisheries Sakti Wahyu Trenggono reiterated his firm stance against illegal fishing activities, emphasizing their threat to marine sustainability and the welfare of Indonesian fishers.
