Susi Seeks a Middle Road

Eleven ships owned by Arabikatama Khatulistiwa Fishing Industry (AKFI) sat tied to a dock in Ambon City, Maluku, on Saturday two weeks ago. For more than a year, those ships have sat idle, unable to return to sea. A shortage in raw materials has caused the nearby fish processing factory to discontinue operation as well.

According to Deki and Poli, two security guards working for AKFI, the ships stopped operating following a ban by Marine Affairs and Fisheries Minister Susi Pudjiastuti on cargo transshipment. In response, companies' integrated work system went haywire. The system includes the capture, cold storage, processing and transportation of fish.