The Paradise of Fish Plunderers
Fish plundering in Indonesian waters is rampant. Ships from various countries enter into potentiality fish-rich zones, like the Natuna islands, the Sulawesi and Arafura Seas. In one year, losses to the state caused by sea plundering comes to no less than Rp30 trillion. The plunderers work as effieciently as the mafia. A huge ship is anchored in the middle of the ocean, acting as the fence, while other vessels operate as the fuel supplier. There are currently 500 people imprisoned in Indonesia because of illegal fishing.
May 13, 2008
THE waves of the Arafura Sea gave the MV Huang Wen, a last gentle roll. In Pamako port, Timika, Papua, the white-painted jumbo ship with a Chinese flag is floating calmly. The waves did not rock the vessel too much, particularly since it contained 490 tons of fresh fish.
Not far from MV Huang, the 100 meter-MV Gou Xhum-66 was safely anchored. The ship was also full of fish as many as 120 tons. Close to the harbor, there were 22 other ve
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