“I’ve made many changes and controversial policies. We are proud that one out of six tuna in the world belongs to Indonesia and [we are] number one in fisheries trade balance in Southeast Asia. So, keep Indonesia at number one,” Susi said during the handover ceremony at the Maritime Affairs and Fisheries Ministry last October.

Despite criticism on the limits of her achievements, the National Committee on Fish Stock Assessment, for instance, reported that the maximum sustainable yield of Indonesian fisheries has increased significantly. From 2015 to 2017 alone, the Indonesian fisheries stock was estimated to increase from 7.3 million tons to 12.54 million tons.

Therefore, Susi gave her successor a strong message, hoping that the ministry’s hard work over the past five years would be continued by the new minister. Indeed, during her time in the office, Susi has often been highlighted as one of the most successful ministers in promoting sustainable fisheries as well as protecting Indonesia’s fisheries stock from illegal foreign fishing vessels.

However, recent reports highlighted many illegal foreign fishing vessels, including those from Vietnam and China that have returned to operate in the Natuna Sea in parts of Indonesia’s exclusive economic zone (EEZ). The Indonesian coast guard immediately kicked them out of Indonesia’s jurisdiction.

Most recently the Navy forced Chinese fishing vessels to leave Indonesia’s exclusive economic zone, triggering a diplomatic spat between the two countries.

The incidents raise the question: Will illegal foreign fishing vessels strike back now that Susi has left office?

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