ASIATODAY.ID, JAKARTA – Indonesia’s Ministry of Marine Affairs and Fisheries (KKP) has released 1,300 live Napoleon wrasse (Cheilinus undulatus) into protected waters in North Sulawesi after seizing the fish from an alleged smuggling operation destined for Hong Kong.
The fish were released in two stages on June 5 and June 7, 2026, in a regional marine conservation area following the interception of the vessel MV Silver Island, a 492-GT ship flying the flag of Sao Tome and Principe. The vessel was apprehended by Indonesia’s fisheries patrol vessel Orca 04 in the Sulawesi Sea on May 29 while en route to Hong Kong.
Pung Nugroho Saksono, Director General of Marine and Fisheries Resources Surveillance (PSDKP), said the release reflects Indonesia’s commitment to enforcing fisheries laws while safeguarding marine biodiversity.
“This release is in line with our commitment to law enforcement that also prioritizes the conservation of marine and fisheries resources,” Saksono said in a statement quoted on Friday, June 18, 2026.
According to Indonesian authorities, live specimens of protected fish seized during enforcement operations are returned to their natural habitat whenever possible to ensure the sustainability of marine resources.
Halid K. Jusuf, Director of Violation Handling at the PSDKP Directorate General, said the release operation was conducted in two phases due to the large number of fish involved and weather conditions considered suitable for their survival.
A small number of the fish were retained as evidence for ongoing legal proceedings, while the remainder were returned to the wild.
“The case has officially entered the investigation stage. We are continuing to develop the investigation based on findings in the field,” Halid said.
Investigators are expected to question the vessel’s owners, operators, and other parties believed to be linked to the trafficking network behind the shipment.
The release operation was monitored by representatives from the North Sulawesi Police’s Civil Servant Investigator Supervisory Unit, the Bitung District Prosecutor’s Office, the North Sulawesi Marine and Fisheries Agency, and fisheries enforcement officials.
The Napoleon wrasse, one of the world’s largest coral reef fish species, is protected under Indonesian regulations and is subject to strict international trade controls due to concerns over overexploitation and declining populations.
Minister of Marine Affairs and Fisheries Sakti Wahyu Trenggono has repeatedly emphasized the importance of protecting vulnerable fish species and maintaining the sustainability of Indonesia’s marine resources. The ministry has also reiterated that any commercial utilization of Napoleon wrasse requires official permits issued by the Indonesian government.
The seizure of the MV Silver Island is regarded as one of Indonesia’s largest recent cases involving the illegal trade of live Napoleon wrasse and could help authorities uncover a broader transnational wildlife trafficking network operating across Asian markets. (AT Network)
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