"I ask the Navy and the police to step up sea security to improve the welfare of coastal people," he said.
Tanjung Kelayang, Belitung (ANTARA News) - Vice President Boediono has called on security agencies to step up security in the sea to prevent illegal fishing that has caused great losses to Indonesia.

"I ask the Navy and the police to step up sea security to improve the welfare of coastal people," he said at the closing of the Sail Wakatobi Belitong 2011 here on Thursday.

He said Indonesia is a maritime country that is rich in marine resources. "Fishermen will be well-off if we have strong sea security forces to stop illegal fishing and looting of our marine resources by parties that have no right to them," he said.

He said systematic hard work would be required to exploit the vast resources. "We need to provide proper piers at fishing ports across the country, fish processing centers and strong sea security," he said.

He hoped the Sail Belitong and Sail Wakatobi 2011 would become a momentum for the rise of marine resource development.

"The Sail activities this year are aimed at supporting inclusive regional development for improving the welfare of the people," he said.

In view of that he said strong security agencies would be needed to increase development in the isolated regions and outermost islands with respect to environment.

He said the government is now accelerating pro-people development programs in the coastal areas. "We wish fish production could be continuously increased especially for exports," he said.

He said fish culture would also be developed at fish processing centers and centers of fisheries and marine education would also be increased to give an added value to the sea potentials.(*)

Editor: Heru Purwanto
Copyright © ANTARA 2011