The Ministry of Maritime Affairs and Fisheries (KKP) is developing intelligence-based surveillance to combat Illegal, Unreported and Unregulated Fishing (IUUF) activities in the region.
Dr. Pung Nugroho Saksono, A.Pi., M.M., the Acting Director-General of Marine and Fisheries Resources Surveillance (PSDKP), commonly known as Ipunk, announced via a press release on Thursday (7/3/2024) that this initiative represents a tangible manifestation of KKP’s commitment. It is realized through a collaboration between the Regional Plan of Action to Promote Responsible Fishing Practices, including Combating IUU Fishing in the Region (RPOA IUU), and the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) under the Arafura and Timor Seas Ecosystem Action Phase II (ATSEA-2) program.
“As directed by the Minister, in overseeing the Blue Economy priority program, surveillance strategies will continue to be developed by utilizing technology and intelligence functions,” Ipunk said.
At the Advanced Fisheries Intelligence Training held in Bali from Tuesday to Friday, February 20-23, 2024, Ir. Eko Rudianto M.Bus., Deputy Executive Director of RPOA-IUU, represented Ir. Suharta, M.Si., the Executive Director of RPOA-IUU Secretariat. He stated that by enhancing the capacity of fisheries supervisors to utilize various intelligence components within the Monitoring, Control, and Surveillance (MCS) system in the fisheries sector, supervision will be more optimal, thereby supporting the effective implementation of Blue Economy priority policies.
“By developing an intelligence-based surveillance operation strategy, as well as enhancing the expertise of fisheries supervisors in applying intelligence functions, we can monitor all fishing activities. This will enable us to achieve sustainable and transparent fisheries resource management,” said Rudianto.
In support of Rudianto’s statement, Dr. Handoko Adi Susanto, S.Pi., M.Sc., the ATSEA-2 Regional Project Manager, explained that through the Advanced Fisheries Intelligence Training, fisheries supervisors will acquire knowledge and understanding of the intelligence component for analyzing fisheries data and planning operations and surveillance patrols at sea effectively and efficiently.
“In recent years, there has been a growing application of fisheries intelligence to combat IUU fishing. This specialized and advanced training will enhance the country’s capacity to process, analyze, and interpret all data and information in the fisheries sector. It will assist the country in formulating the appropriate operational strategies to eradicate IUU fishing,” Handoko said.
KKP, through RPOA-IUU and ATSEA-2, organized the Advanced Fisheries Intelligence Training, which was attended by 42 representatives from 11 participating countries: Australia, Brunei Darussalam, Cambodia, Indonesia, Malaysia, Papua New Guinea, the Philippines, Singapore, Thailand, Timor-Leste, and Vietnam.
In this activity, representatives from the International Monitoring, Controlling, and Surveillance Network (IMCSN), International Police (INTERPOL), and Fisheries and Oceans Canada (fisheries enforcement) delivered training materials on implementing intelligence in the fisheries sector, intelligence products, conducting inspections, investigating cases in the fisheries sector, and the modus operandi of international fisheries crimes. These crimes involve cooperation between countries in exchanging information and data.
Previously, the Minister of Maritime Affairs and Fisheries, Sakti Wahyu Trenggono, launched the Integrated Maritime Intelligence Platform, which functions as an integrated medium accommodating all data and information in the marine and fisheries sector.
This initiative represents one of Indonesia’s endeavors to implement intelligence instruments in supporting Monitoring, Control, and Surveillance (MCS) efforts conducted thus far.
Thus, it is hoped that increasing the capacity of fisheries supervisors in utilizing the intelligence component can be a step forward in uncovering more modern and evolving modes of IUU fishing.
For the report of the meeting can be accessed ADVANCED FISHERIES INTELLIGENCE TRAINING
