JAKARTA: Indonesian authorities sank 23 foreign fishing boats on Tuesday, saying they were “operating illegally in the archipelago’s vast waters in continuation of anti-poaching efforts”, China’s Xinhua news agency reported.
The vessels, which included 13 Vietnamese and 10 Malaysian boats, were sunk at seven locations, off Aceh and Batam.
Tuesday’s event, which was attended by police and navy personnel, marked the third sinking of foreign poaching boats so far this year.
Indonesia has scuttled 174 such vessels since 2014.
“The government will continue to sink poaching ships,” Maritime and Fisheries Minister Susi Pudjiastuti told reporters in Jakarta.
Since taking office in October 2014, Indonesian President Joko Widodo has called for a war against illegal fishing and ordered authorities to take tough measures in tackling poaching.
– BERNAMA