The legitimacy of
Indonesia’s ‘war on illegal fishing’
Gulardi Nurbintoro ; The writer works at the Foreign Ministry; He is
pursuing a PhD degree in juridical science at the University of Virginia, US
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JAKATA
POST, 07 Desember 2014
The
legendary Indonesian music band Koes Ploes once described the natural
advantage of the country in the song “Kolam Susu” (milk pond). It was said
that our land is heaven since we could cultivate sticks and stones to become
plants (tongkat kayu dan batu jadi
tanaman). They further implied that fishing was a relatively
less-stressful activity since fish and shrimps would come to you directly
(ikan dan udang menghampiri dirimu).
Obviously, nowhere on earth can you
cultivate a stone to become a flower, neither do fish come to idle fishermen.
Yet Indonesia does have abundant resources at sea that could and should be
used for the greatest benefit and welfare of the people. Unfortunately,
illegal fishing by foreign fishermen is one of the main marine problems
Indonesia has yet to tackle.
New
Maritime Affairs and Fisheries Minister Susi Pudjiastuti has proposed a
harsher treatment of foreign vessels fishing illegally in Indonesian
territory — sinking foreign vessels caught in the act.
The new
policy is being applauded by many as a breakthrough to combat the problem.
However, the government must be cautious to avoid diplomatic troubles.
Indonesia should first and foremost have a strong legal basis to support its
policies.
The main
legal reference would be the UN Convention on the Law of the Sea. Article 73
stipulates that a coastal state may take measures including boarding,
inspection, arrest and judicial proceedings to ensure compliance with the
laws and regulations in conformity with the convention.
The same
article further regulates that “arrested vessels and their crews shall be
promptly released upon the posting of reasonable bond or other security” and
that “penalties for violations of
fisheries laws and regulations in the exclusive economic zone may not include
imprisonment [...] or any other form of corporal punishment”.
The
provision specifically regulates the rights of the coastal state in the
exclusive economic zone. Hence, if illegal fishing is conducted in areas
other than the exclusive economic zone, Indonesia as a coastal state can
resort to other measures not regulated under Article 73. Indonesia,
therefore, may sink a foreign vessel involved in illegal fishing in its
waters.
But it
does not mean that Indonesia is allowed to take ultimate measures, such as
sinking foreign vessels in the exclusive economic zone. The purpose of
Article 73 is to set up certain guidelines for the coastal state in
addressing violations of fisheries laws and regulations. Article 73 clearly
does not prohibit Indonesia from taking other measures not mentioned in the
provision.
Indonesia’s
policy is further justified under customary international law as a rule
deriving from a decision of the Permanent Court of International Justice in
1928 regarding the Lotus case, in which the French steamer Lotus had collided
with a Turkish vessel. The court ruled that a state may exercise jurisdiction
and apply a wide range of discretions unless otherwise prohibited under
international law. Every state remains free to adopt principles which it
regards as best and most suitable.
Therefore,
the new “war on illegal fishing” approach of exercising the ultimate act of
sinking foreign vessels involved in illegal fishing is legitimate. It is,
moreover, necessary to deter future culprits. Understandably, Indonesia will
not sink every single foreign vessel without the conviction that a vessel has
beyond reasonable doubt been illegally fishing and created a huge loss to
Indonesia’s economy and marine environment.
Indonesia
would certainly uphold the principle of human rights and observe the safety
of the fishermen on board. President Joko “Jokowi” Widodo has already
instructed that the fishermen should be rescued first before sinking vessels.
The policy, if carried out, will probably not please the country that
falls “victim” to this policy. But this is the approach Indonesia must take
to protect its economy, which has been suffering an annual loss of Rp 101.4
trillion (US$8.24 billion) from illegal fishing. This would ensure Indonesia
remained sovereign in her own waters, and most importantly, as Jokowi stated
in his inaugural address, open the path to restore the nation’s glory on the
oceans — Jalesveva Jayamahe.
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