Jakarta (ANTARA News) - The government will continue firm action destroying fishing boats illegally operating in Indonesian waters, to preserve its sea natural resources, an official said.

"The government will not relax the measures against illegal fishing," Marine and Fisheries Minister Susi Pudjiastuti said here on Tuesday.

On Tuesday, the Illegal Fishing Eradication Task Force exploded and sank 23 more foreign fishing boats caught earlier illegally operating in Indonesian waters.

The 23 boats including 13 Vietnamese and 10 Malaysian boats were destroyed in seven separate areas - five units off Batam, two units off Tarempa and eight units off Ranai of Riau islands, three units off Langsa of Aceh, two off Tarakan of North Kalimantan, one unit off Belawan of North Sumatra, and two off Pontianak of West Kalimantan. .

The government under President Joko Widodo has exploded and sunk 174 fishing boats for illegally operating in Indonesian waters. (*)

Editor: Heru Purwanto
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