Timika Police chief Adj. Sr. Comr. Godhelp Cornelis Mansembra said here Wednesday the 13, all Taiwanese, were detained for not having the necessary documents.

The other 11 are subject to intensive investigation.

The police have confiscated the ships and their fishing equipment for use as evidence in court.

Mansembra said National Police chief Gen. Sutanto and Maritime Affairs and Fisheries Minister Freddy Numberi were scheduled to visit the region to check on the detained ships and their captains.

Illegal fishing has persisted in the Arafuru waters despite regular patrols by the maritime police and the Navy.

In the Riau archipelago, widespread poaching has become a serious threat to local fishermen.

In 2007, local authorities detained and deported 250 Thai and Vietnamese fishermen after they were tried at the Natura District Court, chief of the local fisheries and maritime resources office, Amir Faizal, said in Batam on Wednesday.

He called on national businessmen to improve cooperation with local fishermen to explore the rich maritime resources in the Riau waters.

Amir said he appreciated the unilateral decision by Indonesian authorities to halt fishing arrangements with China and Thailand that did not benefit local fishermen. --JP

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