Indonesia Against Fishery Export Import Rules that Harm Country

Jakarta (Antara) - Indonesia's minister of fisheries and marine resources Susi Pudjiastuti has called on G20 members to not impose export-import rules that harm the country. "We want to be become a master and have sovereignty in our own country," she said at a dialog with business players in the fishery and marine sectors at her office here on Tuesday. She said she had asked the director general of processing and marketing of fishery products of her office to write to a number of offices to quit from the fishery sector of the G20 if the rules are found to harm the country. As an example she referred to a rule that imposes various imort tariffs for various export commodities from Indonesia such as tuna and shrimp while the Indonesian portfolio for the commodities could reach hundred million US dollars. The minister said that Indonesia does not play a big role in the decision making process in the G20. "We are not a decision maker. We are not members of the G8 countries. We are mere supporters," she said. She said she was convinced that around 1,200 foreign fishing ships that operate in the Indonesian waters do not report to or unload their catch at the country's ports. Minister Pudjiastuti has expressed concern over the operation of foreign fishing ships in the country, saying that it is only in Indonesia foreign ships are allowed to catch fish in the zone belong to the country. "We are the only one that allows foreign ships to catch fish in our waters," she said here on Friday. She said Indonesia has been the only destination for foreign fishing ships to fish because no more country in the world allows foreign ships to catch fish in their waters. She said Australia in 2009 issued a policy to close 70 percent of its coral barrier reef. She said the decision was important with regard to assure sustainability of fish resource management and fish stock for the future. (*)