Papua to investigate captured foreign ships

Mon, 04/28/2008 11:40 AM | The Archipelago

JAYAPURA: Maritime Affairs and Fisheries Minister Freddy Numberi has asked the police in Papua to investigate 24 foreign ships detained recently for poaching in the Arafuru waters in Papua.

"We have asked the chief of the detectives section at the National Police Headquarters to release the names of the owners of the ships and a possible syndicate that is behind the illegal fishing," he said.

Freddy was in Jayapura over the weekend to install a gas station for fishing ships.

He said he suspected there was a syndicate involving certain unauthorized officials who "protected" the fishing ships' operations.

The fishing ships and their Thai captains arrested by Navy patrols on Wednesday are still undergoing a police investigation in Timika.

Commander of the naval base in Jayapura, Brig. Gen. Giarto, said illegal fishing was widespread when there was bad weather and tidal waves, through which the Navy's patrol vessels could not pass. --JP

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