The Indonesian Tuna Longline Association has detected seven illegal fishing aggregation devices set up by large-scale fishing ships in Bali waters.
Kasdi Taman, chairman of the association’s Bali chapter, said Thursday that two large fishing ships, Mikki and Minni, illegally planted the devices to ensure bigger fishing yields.
“We have already revoked the two fishing companies’ memberships from the association since their actions have hurt the local fishing business,” Taman said.
The association has 966 ship members operating in Bali waters.
“The establishment of illegal fishing devices badly affected small-scale fishermen. “Moreover, the devices will also affect larger fishing fleets’ machinery,” he added.
I Gusti Putu Nuriartha, head of the Maritime Affairs and Fisheries office in Bali, admitted that his office had not monitored the operations of privately owned fishing fleets.
“We do not have the security to monitor fishing ship activity in Bali waters,” he said.
“Lack of monitoring has encouraged private fishing ships to plant illegal devices,” Nuriartha added.
He also said that his office had set up close cooperation with Bali Water Police and the Indonesian Navy to monitor Bali waters.
“So far, we heavily rely on the Navy and the Bali Police to secure the waters of Bali,” he said.
He said that the office could purchase and operate a ship to monitor fishing in the province’s seas.
“Bali is surrounded with water.
“Legal and illegal fishing businesses are on the rise.
“But, we don’t have enough budget to tightly control these lucrative ventures,” Nuriartha noted.
Office data revealed that Bali could only generate 19.6 percent of its abundant fishing industry, 33,537 tons of fish valued at US$98.13 million in 2009.
