Govt Curbs Foreign Fishing: Indonesia

Illegal fishing in foreign waters does pose a problem for many countries. Australia is a prime example with more Indonesian fishermen being arrested in their waters almost every day recently.

Now Indonesia has jumped on the boat and joined in by banning foreign fishing companies operating in their waters according to a Business News report. It appears the government will ban foreign fishing companies from operating in Indonesia if they do not also establish their processing plants there. They have already stopped cooperation with the Philippines. In addition to them Indonesia will also end a similar fishing cooperation with Thailand in September and with China next year.

The fish will definitely be jumping for joy over this!.

According to the relevant minister any fishing boats from the Philippines that enter Indonesia using whatever documents are illegal. However, he said the government would actively support foreign fishing companies operating in Indonesian waters if they were willing to open their processing facilities in the country.

In 2005 Indonesia lost Rp 3 trillion in state revenue due to illegal fishing. A minister was quoted as saying that local governments should help lure foreign fishing companies to establish processing facilities in their respective provinces by providing them with tax incentives.

I wonder if Australia will allow l fishing to continue in their waters if Indonesia promises to build a couple of huts resembling a processing factory on Australian shores?. Yeah, and pigs will fly!.