The Indonesian Focal Point, Mr. Yudhistira Rizky Abdillah, disseminated the conclusion of the RPOA-IUU 17th Coordination Committee Meeting held in Makati, the Philippines. Rizky wrote an op-ed piece titled “Protecting our archipelago from illegal fishing”, published in the Jakarta Post on 13 December 2024. The article aims to increase the Indonesian public’s awareness on the pressing issue of IUU fishing in the Indonesian waters. It is also to commemorate the Djuanda Declaration 1957 which was a foundation for the global recognition of the archipelagic state through the UNCLOS 1982.
Through this article, Mr. Abdillah pointed out the importance of strengthening fisheries MCS to address IUU fishing. He outlined three main strategies to strengthen the MCS measures through the use of cutting-edge technology, strengthening of port inspection, as well as strengthening of cooperation and information sharing. He emphasizes that cooperation and exchange of information are of the utmost importance to clamp down on IUU fishing. Ultimately, He highlighted the conclusion of the CCM with the shared commitment to enhancing information exchange and strengthening cooperation with international partners in addressing the pressing challenges of IUU fishing in the region.
The original article can be accessed through this link