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riticized for netting only the small fry in its struggle against illegal fishing, the Indonesian Military (TNI) has claimed that the vast maritime territory and lack of equipment are its biggest obstacles in catching larger boats.

'€œWe are very serious in doing our job and never play games on this duty or pussyfoot [with the illegal fishermen],'€ TNI commander Gen. Moeldoko told reporters before attending an executive meeting at the military headquarters in Cilangkap, East Jakarta, on Monday.

He also denied that the force'€™s slow response was due to collusion with the perpetrators.

Moeldoko said the military, especially the Navy, found many difficulties in doing its job because of the huge size of Indonesia'€™s waters, lack of fuel supply and technical issues.

'€œOur seas are enormous, although they look small on the map,'€ he said.

With the large maritime territory, Moeldoko said the Navy needed more fuel to operate its patrol boats and frigates.

For example, the Navy needs Rp 900 million (US$72,358) worth of fuel just to operate a frigate to patrol the country'€™s Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ), which is the extension of a coastal state'€™s territorial rights. The zone can extend up to 200 miles seaward from the state'€™s coastline.

The Navy'€™s ships are scattered throughout Indonesia'€™s territory, making it difficult to mobilize a vessel from one area to another. It takes hours or even days to reach destinations due to the space involved.

'€œWhen we reach an area, the illegal ship has disappeared or has moved to another area,'€ Moeldoko said, adding that the illegal fishing usually occurred on Indonesia'€™s borders.

The military chief also stated that illegal fishing boats had their own radars, which were technologically advanced, and their ships were faster compared to the Navy'€™s ships.

'€œWe need time and space, that is why we cannot arrest all illegal fishing boats across the country faster. We get the information, but to move we need space and time,'€ he said.

Earlier, Maritime Affairs and Fisheries Minister Susi Pudjiastuti reported that 13 illegal fishing vessels from China and Taiwan had been detected around Indonesia'€™s waters. However, the Navy had neither information on the illegal fishing boats nor the orders to seize the vessels.

Moeldoko said that even though the Air Force found the illegal boats fishing in the territory of Indonesia, it could not fire on them. '€œShooting fishing boats using jet fighters is impossible because we have legal mechanisms,'€ he said.

Navy chief of staff Adm. Marsutio said the Navy not only combatted illegal fishing but had many other tasks as well. '€œWe have to safeguard our territory and maintain diplomacy with other countries. It is part of our mandate,'€ he said.

Indonesia loses about Rp 300 trillion annually due to illegal fishing and currently there are some 5,400 illegal ships operating in Indonesia'€™s territory. President Joko '€œJokowi'€ Widodo has instructed law enforcers to take firm action against foreign ships stealing fish from Indonesian waters, including by sinking them on the spot.

On Dec. 5, the Navy destroyed three Vietnamese boats for illegally fishing in Tanjung Pedas waters in Riau Islands province. The three ships were caught by the Navy on Nov. 2. On Dec. 21, the Navy blew up two other illegal ships at Laha Teluk, Ambon. The ships, flying the Papua New Guinea (PNG) flag, were caught on Dec. 7 near the border of Indonesia and PNG.

Article 69 of Law No. 45/2009 on fisheries stipulates that the coast guard can sink foreign vessels operating illegally in the country'€™s territorial waters based on sufficient preliminary evidence.