INDONESIAN HIGH SEAS DRIFTNET ACTIVITY INFORMATION

UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 02 JAKARTA 002205 SIPDIS DEPT FOR OES AND EAP COMMERCE FOR NOAA USAID FOR ANE, EGAT BANGKOK FOR RDM/A NSC FOR CEQ CONNAUGHTON, VAN DYKE, KUSKA DEPT FOR EAP/MTS, OES/OMC, AND OES/OA OES/OMC FOR DWARNER-KRAMER NOAA FOR LCIMO E.O. 12598: N/A TAGS: SENV EFIS ETRD PGOV ID SUBJECT: INDONESIAN HIGH SEAS DRIFTNET ACTIVITY INFORMATION REF: STATE 100495 ¶1. This message responds to reftel request for information from Indonesia for purposes of the High Seas Driftnet Fishing Moratorium Protection Act. ¶2. Summary. The Ministry of Marine Affairs and Fisheries (MMAF) has provided specific information on the vessels listed on the Inter-American Tropical Tuna Commission (IATTC) IUU vessel list. The Government of Indonesia (GOI) has a strong interest in improving its capacity for monitoring, control and enforcement, MMAF officials say, as it becomes a member of various regional fisheries management organizations. They insist that Indonesia is committed to doing its best, and welcome any USG assistance and cooperation in this area. End Summary. MMAF: Monitoring and Control Challenging -------------- ¶3. Post discussed reftel questions on November 24 with Ministry of Marine Affairs and Fisheries (MMAF) officials from the Directorate General of Capture Fisheries (Capture Fisheries) and the Directorate General of Surveillance and Control of Marine Resources and Fisheries (Surveillance and Control). Capture Fisheries' Director of Fisheries Resource Management, Nilanto Perbowo, stated that the GOI does have in place control mechanisms, including a vessel monitoring system, to verify that Indonesian-flagged vessels operate in accordance with regional conservation and management measures. He noted that the MMAF has issued ministerial decrees and a number of regulations to ensure effective monitoring and control. However, Perbowo and other MMAF officials admitted challenges in effectively implementing these; the MMAF has inadequate numbers of inspectors and field staff to effectively monitor and control a fishing fleet spread across the vast Indonesian archipelago and EEZ. Action against Vessels on IATTC IUU Vessel List -------------- - ¶4. Perbowo noted that Capture Fisheries has sent several official letters (the most recent in May 2008) to the IATTC Director since 2006 regarding the 12 vessels listed. (Note: Post will send scanned copies of these letters to USG POCs by email. End Note). Those letters noted that the MMAF had searched its licensing database for the listed vessels and held several meetings with the vessels' owners. ¶5. The MMAF officials stated that Capture Fisheries sent a reprimand letter to the owners of the listed fishing vessels, demanding an explanation, on September 25, 2006. Responses from owners in April and September 2007 acknowledged their wrongdoing, but pled ignorance of rules on high seas fishing. Representatives of the government and the Indonesian Tuna Association held a consultation meeting in Jakarta on September 24, 2007 to clarify the issues. ¶6. The MMAF confirmed that 7 of the 12 fishing vessels are still operating and registered in their national licensing database. However, the remaining 5 vessels are no longer active and been delisted from the database, for various reasons. The MMAF issued a letter on October 10, 2007 to the remaining vessel owners warning them that their licenses would be revoked immediately if they operate in the IATTC area again. GOI Procedures -------------- ¶7. The MMAF/Capture Fisheries is responsible for issuing fishing licenses, while the Ministry of Transportation is responsible for registering and issuing ship licenses. Indonesia issues fishing licenses valid only for its EEZ. By default, Indonesia does not permit fishing on the high seas. However, there is currently no law or regulation on high seas fishing, and therefore no proper legal basis on which to punish Indonesian vessels found fishing illegally on the high seas. According to the MMAF officials, they are currently preparing a ministerial decree on high seas fishing and licensing which it hopes to have ready by the end of 2009, and which JAKARTA 00002205 002 OF 002 will provide the legal basis for punitive action against violators. ¶8. The normal MMAF procedure for disciplining Indonesian fishing vessels for violations in Indonesian waters: -- MMAF first warns vessel owner/company three times; -- MMAF then freezes license for two weeks, during which time the owner has to provide a satisfactory response; -- If no satisfactory response, the MMAF will revoke the fishing license. USG Assistance and Cooperation Welcome -------------- ¶9. The MMAF officials welcomed potential USG assistance and cooperation to help Indonesia control its fishing fleet and meet its international obligations. They pointed to successful cooperation with Australia in monitoring activity in the Timor and Arafura seas. Indonesia has a strong interest in improving its capacity for monitoring, control and enforcement, they said, especially following its admission to membership in the Indian Ocean Tuna Commission (IOTC) in 2007, and anticipating membership in the Western and Central Pacific Fisheries Commission (WCPFC) in the near future. It will not be an easy process, they said, but insisted that Indonesia is committed to doing its best. HUME