Businesses Feel the Pain

The owners of some large and medium-sized businesses are united against the policies of Marine Affairs and Fisheries Minister Susi Pudjiastuti. They have attempted many ways to undermine these policies, like the ban on foreign-owned ships from sailing in Indonesian waters from November 2014 onwards. Susi has also banned the use of trawls and Seine nets as of January 2015.

The businesspeople who came together to form a Team of 15 asked to meet Minister Susi. However, this request came with a condition. "We want to meet in a neutral place," said Rudi Walukow, chairman of the National Association of Fishing Boats of North Sulawesi. These people in the fish business were initially willing to meet Susi last Monday. However, because Susi wanted the meeting to take place at her office, the meeting never took place.

April 5, 2016