Jakarta (ANTARA News) - The Maritime and Fisheries Affairs Ministry has arrested four foreign fishing vessels, consisting of two Malaysian-flagged vessels and two Vietnamese-flagged vessels, for illegal fishing in Indonesian waters.

"The ministrys vessel captured the fishing boats on July 18," the Director General of Marine Resources and Fisheries Supervision Eko Djalmo Asmadi said here on Monday.

The Malaysian flagged-vessels were arrested by Hiu 12 Patrol Boat in the waters of the Malacca Strait.

The officers arrested SLFA 4641 MV with three crew members who were Indonesians. Meanwhile, the ministry also arrested the SLFA 4948 MV with four Indonesian crew members.

Both vessels were arrested for fishing illegally without permission and operating trawl fishing gear in Indonesian waters.

The officers has escorted both vessels to Lampulo Port of Aceh Province for investigation.

Additionally, the two Vietnamese vessels were arrested by Orca 02 Patrol Boat in the Indonesian Exclusive Economic Zone of North Natuna Sea.

The patrol boat arrested BD 96743TS vessel with 15 Vietnamese crews and the KNF 7825 MV with 14 Vietnamese crews.

The officer arrested them as they did not have permit letters and licenses for fishing in Indonesia. The vessels were escorted to the Natuna Supervision Office to conduct investigation.

The ministry has captured 95 illegal fishing vessels from January to July 24, 2017,which included 72 foreign fishing vessels and 23 Indonesian fishing vessels.

The total number of foreign vessels that were captured includes 63 Vietnam-flagged vessels, 5 Malaysian-flagged vessels, and 4 Filipinos vessels.(*)

Editor: Heru Purwanto
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