South Sulawesi Water Police thwart illegal fishing

Andi Hajramurni ,  The Jakarta Post ,  Makassar   |  Thu, 03/19/2009 3:01 PM  |  The Archipelago

The South Sulawesi Water Police Directorate caught 15 fishermen illegally bomb fishing around Sapuka and Sumanga islands in the Pangkajene Islands regency over the weekend. Two of them, both boat skippers, have been named as suspects.

Operational sub-office chief Adj. Sr. Comr. I Made Sunarta said in Makassar on Wednesday that the fishermen, operating in two separate groups, were arrested in waters around Pangka and Sumanga islands in Liukang Tangngaya district, Pangkejene Islands on Sunday and Monday.

The groups, aboard two different boats, the Erwin Jaya sailing boat and Cinta Makka motorboat, were caught by officers on a patrol boat, about to use the bombs.

"We have heightened supervision and sea patrols recently due to rampant illegal fishing in South Sulawesi waters. The officers, who were in disguise, intercepted both boats together with their 15 crew members, including two skippers," Sunarta said.

Police found 344 detonators, 70 bottles in various sizes, 21 containers filled with ammonium nitrate, three air compressors, 33 meters of wicks, six rolls of hose and other diving equipment. The boats and their contents were towed to Makassar on Tuesday.

Both suspects and crewmembers were questioned at the police port security unit in Makassar, while the boats and their contents were impounded as evidence.

Both suspects, identified as Sulaeman bin Daeng Juma and Hatibu, alias Daeng Lira bin Bombong, were charged with violating Law No. 31/2004 on fisheries, which carries a maximum sentence of six years prison and a maximum fine of Rp 2 billion (US$180,000).

According to Sunarta, police are still developing the case to uncover the supplier of the explosive materials, because the materials used in the five illegal fishing cases handled by the South Sulawesi Water Police this year were similar, raising suspicions that they came from the same source.

Police speculated that the supplier comes from a syndicate whose network reaches as far as neighboring Malaysia.

Both suspects admitted to having used the bombs, saying that fishing with conventional equipment fails to net as much fish as it once did and is no longer economically viable, especially given a recent rise in fuel prices.

"I had used the bomb only once. I was tempted to use it because other fishermen also use bombs and their fish catch increased," Sulaeman, who said he obtained the explosive materials from an unidentified person, said.

Unlike Sulaeman, Hatibu denied that he was a skipper or a boat owner.

"I'm just a fish buyer in the area. I went on board the Cinta Makka by chance because I wanted to be the first one to buy the catch. However, the boat was later seized by authorities," Hatibu said, adding that he resells the fish at the Paotere fish market in Makassar.

Sunarta said such illegal fishing is widespread in the Pangkep Islands as its many dispersed islands are not adequately policed by security forces. He said that illegal fishing could be curbed if security was tightened.

Copyright © 2008 The Jakarta Post - PT Bina Media Tenggara. All Rights Reserved.