Indonesia sinks 4 Vietnamese-flagged illegal fishing vessels

Published: 22:42, March 25, 2021 | Updated: 21:27, June 4, 2023

By Xinhua

In this file photo taken on April 5, 2016, an illegal fishing boat is blown up with explosives by Indonesian authorities in Kuala Langsa, Aceh province. (JANUAR / AFP)

JAKARTA - Indonesia on Thursday sank four Vietnamese-flagged illegal fishing vessels on Datok Island waters, West Borneo (West Kalimantan province), according to an official.

Nugroho Aji, Acting Director for Violation Handling of the Maritime and Fishery Affairs Ministry, said on Thursday that the four illegal fishing vessels have hull numbers BV 5248 TS (90GT), BV 5688 TS (80GT), East Suria (105GT), and KG 93255 TS (115 GT).

Masyhudi, head of the West Kalimantan High Prosecutor's Office, said that the sinking was done to give a deterrent effect to the fish poachers

"The vessels were arrested by officers for fishing illegally in Indonesian waters," Aji said.

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Masyhudi, head of the West Kalimantan High Prosecutor's Office, said that the sinking was done to give a deterrent effect to the fish poachers.

"The sinking of the vessels is carried out based on a permanent court verdict," Masyhudi added.

After this, Indonesia plans to sink several illegal fishing vessels, namely 10 vessels in Natuna (Riau Islands province), three in Merauke (Papua province), one each in Nunukan (North Kalimantan province), Bitung (North Sulawesi province) and Batam (Riau Islands province).