The Natuna Sea and the Arafura Sea are both fertile fishing grounds and often infested with illegal fishing boats, to the growing consternation of Indonesian authorities. Yunus Husein, the deputy head of Task Force 115, which was set up to combat illegal fishing, said the country's eastern waters were still prone to illegal fishing. The toll also includes 21 Indonesian vessels and others from Papua New Guinea, China, Belize and some that were unregistered in any country. In the year to March 21, the ministry's patrol boats have apprehended 40 illegal fishing boats, which included 36 from Vietnam while the rest were from the Philippines, Malaysia and Indonesia. Poaching fish in Indonesian waters is a crime punishable by maximum six years in prison and a maximum fine of 20 billion rupiah (US$1.5 million).

Source: Bangkok Post April 10, 2017 06:56 UTC