http://www.antara.co.id/en/arc/2007/8/7/govt-evaluating-ban-on-fishing-by-chinese-vessels/
08/07/07 22:12 Govt evaluating ban on fishing by Chinese vessels Jakarta (ANTARA News) - The Marine Resources and Fisheries Ministry is currently evaluating its policy of banning foreign vessels including from China to fish in Indonesian waters. Marine Resources and Fisheries Minister Freddy Numberi said here on Tuesday the action was taken following China`s decision to ban imports of Indonesian fishery products. "We must not let the policy to ban Chinese fishing vessels to operate in the country be used as a reason for China to ban imports of the country`s fishery products," he said. Since 2005 the Indonesian government had changed the pattern of fishing cooperation with foreign companies from licensing to investment cooperation. Under the investment cooperation policy, foreign companies wishing to engage in fishing in Indonesian waters had to set up fish processing industries in the country. In 2006, the government started halting the operations of fishing vessels from the Philippines and Thailand and in July this year those from China. Freddy said until December this year the government would not as yet decide to extend fishing licenses for foreign fishing companies including from China. "The ministry is now still evaluating the policy. Maybe it will again allow foreign fishing operations in the future," he said. The director general of fishery product marketing and processing, Martani Husaini, said from March 2005 to May 2007 there were 14 problems involving Indonesian fishery product exports to China. He said he hoped the Chinese ban on imports of Indonesian fishery products could be settled through negotiations. "It would be better if we sit together to discuss and settle the cases amicably," he said.(*) [Non-text portions of this message have been removed]
