Indonesia destroys PH boats in illegal fishing crackdown

A foreign fishing boat seized by Indonesian authorities for illegal fishing is blown up by Indonesian Navy personnel at sea off Pontianak in West Kalimantan province, on Borneo island, on August 18, 2015. The Indonesian government on April 1, 2017, blew up and sank 81 more foreign boats caught fishing illegally on Indonesian waters, officials said. Most of the boats came from Malaysia, the Philippines, and Thailand. AFP

JAKARTA, Indonesia — Indonesian authorities have destroyed 81 foreign vessels, including those from the Philippines, that were captured fishing illegally in the country’s waters.

The ships were blown up at sea in 12 locations around the archipelago on Saturday.

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Minister of Maritime Affairs and Fisheries Susi Pudjiastuti, who witnessed the sinking of two ships in the port of Ambon in Maluku province, said Indonesia was upholding its sovereignty and combating illegal fishing.

Indonesia has now sunk 317 foreign fishing vessels since 2014, when it began taking a tougher stance against illegal fishing in its waters.

Most of the vessels are from Vietnam, the Philippines, Malaysia and Thailand. CBB/rga