RI wants Thai firms to work with local fishery companies

(News Terupdate) - Foreign Minister Marty Natalegawa said here Monday Indonesia wanted Thai fishing firms to form joint venture with local companies if they wanted to continue operating in Indonesian waters.

After receiving Thai Foreign Minister Kasit Piromya at his office in Jakarta, Marty told a press conference that the joint operation was a key step toward eradicating illegal fishing.

“We are working very closely to finalize an MoU by the middle of this year — one that moves beyond the old formula of the issuance of license [for Thai vessels to operate in Indonesian waters], and toward more joint ventures and partnerships for the mutual benefit of both countries,” Marty said.

The memorandum of understanding (MoU) between Jakarta and Bangkok has been the subject of deliberations since early last year. Many Thai fishing firms operate with legal documents in the archipelago, but allegedly have not built processing plants as required by Indonesian regulations. The regulations, which were introduced in 2008, were aimed at creating added value and jobs in Indonesia.

The Maritime Affairs and Fisheries Ministry said Indonesian waters were the world’s biggest victim of illegal fishing, with up to 1.6 million tons of its fish being poached every year by fishing vessels from a number of other countries including Thailand.

The ministry said there were at least 1,000 foreign vessels involved in illegal fishing in Indonesia’s exclusive economic zones every year, since Indonesian patrols could only cover 12 percent of the area.

In the press conference, Minister Kasit expressed his agreement on the need for Thai fishery companies to work with their Indonesian counterparts if they wanted to continue operating in Indonesian waters.

“As a country with the largest fishing fleet in the world and one of the largest fishery processing industries, Thailand is dependent on Indonesia’s fish [resources],” Kasit said.

“But if we are to come here to fish, we want the benefits to be shared with the Indonesian side. So, there would be mutual benefits and no notion of unilateral exploitation by the Thai side...”

Indonesian Ambassador to Thailand Muhammad Hatta said illegal Thai fishing in Indonesian waters cost the country Rp 30 trillion (US$2.8 billion) in every year, representing more than half of the total state losses inflicted by illegal fishing activities.

“Indonesia and Thailand have set up a joint task force, which works to share information as well as take control of fishing activities in sea border areas.”

Minister Kasit spent 2 days in Jakarta for a visit he said was intended to “take stock of bilateral relations” after 60 years of diplomatic ties. Both ministers will convene at the ASEAN Ministerial Meeting in Vietnam in April.

Berly Martawardaya, a lecturer with the University of Indonesia’s school of economics, said both countries had to utilize ASEAN forums to sort out pending issues before the formation of the ASEAN community by 2015.

“It is recognized that Indonesia is facing difficulties in maintaining control of its vast water areas with its limited budget.”

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