The End of Run Zeng 03 Saga with Strong Cooperation and Information Sharing

The Indonesian public was surprised by the apprehension of an Indonesian fish carrier vessel, MV M.U.S., by the Fisheries Surveillance Vessel Orca 06 in the Arafura Sea just after Indonesian Muslims celebrated Eid al-Fitr earlier this year.

According to the Director General of Surveillance for Marine and Fisheries Resources (PSDKP), the Ministry of Marine and Fisheries Resources (MMAF), Dr. Pung Nugroho Saksono, the operation was carried out to respond to a report from the fishing community to the Minister that foreign vessels were operating illegally in the Arafura Sea. He added that the carrier vessel was identified through the Vessel Monitoring System prior to the operation.

This vessel committed unauthorized transshipment by transporting about 110 tonnes of fish illegally caught by two foreign-flagged fishing vessels. Not only this fisheries crime, the ship was also involved in other fisheries-associated crimes, namely human trafficking and illegal trade of fuel. This vessel has supported the activity of illegal foreign fishing vessels by supplying fuel and transferring 56 Indonesian crew who were recruited illegally.

Immediately after this successful arrest, the Arafura Sea operation involving four fisheries Surveillance Vessels and one patrol aircraft was conducted to chase the suspected vessels. Unfortunately, after more than one week of searching in unpredictable and rough weather conditions, these fugitive vessels could not be found.

Subsequently, Indonesia circulated an alert to all participating countries of the RPOA-IUU facilitated by the Secretariat requesting the partners’ caution, assistance and necessary action to track and intercept these vessels of interest (VOI).

Mr. Yudhistira Rizky Abdillah, a Senior Fisheries Inspector of PSDKP as the RPOA-IUU Indonesian Focal Point stated that he understood the difficulty faced by his colleagues who conducted patrols in a rough weather condition. “It is also my responsibility to assist my colleagues in searching these two most wanted vessels,” he said. “I decided to share an alert regarding this IUU incident to all of the RPOA-IUU members to refrain these VOI from evading law enforcement and returning to their country of origin,” he added.

Mr. Matheus Eko Rudianto, Vice Executive Director of the RPOA-IUU Secretariat, pointed out that the proactive approach by the Indonesian Focal Point to share the IUU fishing alert shows the willingness of countries to share important information with the group. He stated that “The Secretariat is delighted to assist and facilitate communication among participating states. The Secretariat also encourages members to cooperate and to exchange relevant information to secure the region from any illegal activities”, he added.

Not long after this alert, Australian Maritime Border Command informed PSDKP an intelligence capturing the aerial photos of the two vessels with the position in the Australian Fishing Zone. Eventually, on 19 May 2024 or after about one month of search, one of the VOIs, a huge 870 gross tonnage Russian-flagged trawler FV Run Zeng 03, was successfully apprehended by the Fisheries Surveillance Vessel Paus 01 in the Arafura Sea. 

Surprisingly, in a sequential action, the Surveillance Vessel also apprehended another Indonesian fish carrier vessel, MV. Y, committed to supporting the illegal activity of FV. Run Zeng 03 by supplying fuel. Afterwards, Australia shared another intelligence capturing the photos and track of another VOI, FV Run Zeng 05, absconded to Daru Island, Papua New Guinea while scrubbing off all the vessel identifications and flying a PNG pennant.

This was later confirmed by a PNG Focal Point informing Indonesia that the VOI was seeking anchorage for reprovisioning at Daru wharf. PNG National Fisheries Authority has conducted port inspection and later decided to investigate the case under the PNG national laws. The vessel is currently being prosecuted by the PNG authorities.

A Chinese national skipper of FV Run Zeng 03 pleaded guilty to committing fishing without a license and operating a destructive trawl fishing gear in the Indonesian Fisheries Management Area. The master confessed to poaching about 200 tonnes of fish in Indonesian waters.

The Tual District Court has imposed 5-year imprisonment and fines of IDR 2 billion (with 2-month imprisonment as a substitution), as well as vessel seizure to be utilized by the MMAF as a surveillance vessel. Meanwhile, the captains of the two Indonesian Carrier Vessels, MV M.U.S and MV Y, have also been imposed with quite heavy criminal sanctions.

Although all three cases are in the process of cassation to the Supreme Court or appeal to the Ambon High Court, these convictions are among the most severe punishments in fisheries criminal cases. At the same time, the human trafficking allegation is under investigation by the National Police.

This successful fisheries law enforcement is a proof of the Indonesian government’s steadfast stance against IUU fishing. These results can be achieved with strong fisheries judicial framework by the application of the Fisheries Courts.

Furthermore, it is also the outcome of a tight collaboration between the MMAF’s fisheries investigation team and the prosecution team of the Tual District Prosecutors Office in providing credible evidence and comprehensive facts of the crimes to the court. Strong inter-agency collaboration among the law enforcement officers in this case is evident.

IUU fishing is a serious threat depleting fish stock and jeopardizing the marine environment. It also socio-economically impacts fishers’ livelihood, as well as the national economy. A study in 2009 estimated that global revenue loss caused by IUU fishing accounts for between USD 10 billion and 23.5 billion annually. Nationally, a study by the ATSEA-2 Project in 2021 reveals that Indonesia’s economic loss due to IUU fishing reaches about USD 70 million annually.

The IUU fishing involving FV Run Zeng 03 is transnational in nature. The court hearing processes revealed that the vessel is flagged to Russia, while it is owned by a Chinese company. The owner controlled the vessel operation from overseas by communicating regularly with the captain through an instant messaging platform. This beneficiary owner could even monitor all the fishing operations through the CCTV connected to the internet at this vessel.

These illicit activities in Indonesian waters were regrettably supported by some Indonesians masterminding the illegal recruitment and transfer of the Indonesian crew, supply of fuels and logistics, and even the transshipment of the illegal catches. They have been identified and further targeted by the MMAF’s Fisheries Investigators escalating the case investigation.

This extraordinary case is proof that IUU fishing can be associated with other crimes. Once a fishing vessel is illegal, all of its operation should also be illegal, including the recruitment of the crew and the supply of the logistics.

This case can be a lesson learned for future fisheries enforcement measures. Inter-agency collaborations supported by communities’ active participation are crucial to clamp down on IUU fishing and its associated crimes. Ultimately, the exchange of information among countries is paramount to deter and eradicate the transboundary illegal fishing activities as it is proven by the RPOA-IUU group.