ASIATODAY.ID, BELAWAN — Indonesia has issued another unmistakable message to the region: any foreign vessel caught stealing fish in Indonesian waters will not only be arrested — it will be converted into an economic weapon for Indonesian fishermen.
Two Malaysian-flagged fishing vessels confiscated by the state have now been officially handed over to fishermen in Deli Serdang, strengthening local fishing capacity and opening new economic opportunities along the coast of North Sumatra.
The handover ceremony took place at the Belawan Marine and Fisheries Resources Surveillance Station (PSDKP), led by the Director General of Marine and Fisheries Resources Surveillance, Pung Nugroho Saksono (Ipunk) — widely recognized for his uncompromising stance against illegal, unreported and unregulated (IUU) fishing.
The vessels transferred to local fishermen are:
KM. SLFA 3763 — 45.41 GT
KM. PKFA 7541 — 33.93 GT
Both ships were seized by Indonesian patrol vessels HIU 16 and HIU 01 during special anti–illegal fishing operations in 2023. The assets are valued at IDR 212.7 million and IDR 281.7 million respectively.
Instead of sinking the captured vessels — a previous method used for deterrence — the Ministry of Marine Affairs and Fisheries (KKP) now adopts a more strategic approach: transforming seized foreign vessels into productive capital for Indonesian fishermen.
This shift not only strengthens local economies but also delivers a clear message: every illegal act committed in Indonesian waters will ultimately benefit the Indonesian people.
“Law enforcement doesn’t stop at arrest. Seized foreign vessels must create added value for our fishermen. This is the state’s concrete proof of its commitment to the people,” Ipunk emphasized quoted on Monday, December 1,2025.
Deli Serdang Regent Asri Ludin Tambunan described the handover as a game changer for fishermen who have long struggled with limited capital and inadequate vessels.
“We will maintain, manage, and complete all licensing for these vessels. Their benefits will be felt directly by our fishermen and will support regional food security,” Asri said.
A Rigorous and Transparent Legal Process
Before being designated as state assets and transferred to local authorities, both vessels had undergone a full legal process — from investigation and prosecution to a final court ruling (inkracht).
The recipients were carefully selected to ensure the vessels are genuinely used to improve fishermen’s livelihoods and not left idle.
Minister of Marine Affairs and Fisheries Sakti Wahyu Trenggono affirmed that the vessel handover program represents a new, accountable, and productivity-oriented model for managing assets confiscated from fisheries crimes.
The program not only empowers coastal communities but also enhances deterrence against foreign vessels attempting to plunder Indonesia’s marine resources. (AT Network)
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