The Secretariat of State for Fisheries (SEP) acknowledges that illegal fishing continues in the Timor Sea and remains a major concern for the government because control is still limited, and in recent months, boats from neighbouring countries have entered Timor-Leste waters to fish illegally.
Secretary of State for SEP Domingos da Conceição dos Santos said that the impact of these illegal activities causes significant financial losses to the State. Last year, losses reached USD 48 million, while this year alone, by mid-year, losses had already reached nearly USD 16 million.
“Authorities have managed to capture some illegal fishers, particularly from Indonesia. The vessels that were captured, including those carrying up to nine (9) tonnes of fish, are now going through the judicial process. We auction these goods and the revenue goes into the State coffers,” Secretary of State for SEP Domingos said at the MAPPF Hall, Comoro, Dili.
He said that the government also continues to strengthen coordination between relevant ministries and that during a meeting of the Council of Ministers, the Prime Minister instructed the Ministry of Defence, Ministry of Interior and Ministry of Transport and Communications to prepare more advanced equipment to increase control at sea.
“The National Maritime Authority, which comprises the Naval Component, Maritime Police and Fisheries Directorate, is responsible for monitoring and reporting illegal fishing activities, but the direct capture of illegal fishers depends on the security institutions,” he explained.
He called on the community, particularly fishers, to respect fisheries laws and protect marine resources because illegal fishing not only damages the marine environment but also causes economic losses to the country.
He stressed that collaboration between the government and the community is very important to ensure the sustainability of marine resources for the future.
On the other hand, fisher Armandino dos Santos from Pantai Kelapa said that every day they see Indonesian boats close to Timor waters, but at night they enter Timor-Leste waters.
“We can only watch because they use large boats, while we have small boats and cannot do anything. Sometimes we try to approach them together, but when we get close, they move back into Indonesian waters,” he said.
He added that at night many boats enter Timor-Leste waters to steal the country’s fish, but during the day they remain in Indonesian waters, and when night falls, they begin moving into Timor-Leste waters.
Armandino added that the situation makes local fishers feel that it is unfair because although the country is rich in fish, other people are catching them. Therefore, he called on the government to give greater attention to controlling illegal fishing.
