ID :
9967
Fri, 06/13/2008 - 12:49
Auther :
Shortlink :
https://oananews.org//node/9967
The shortlink copeid
OLD FOOTAGE NOT REFLECT HIGH LEVEL OF FISHERIES COOPERATION
Jakarta, June 13 (ANTARA) - Recently aired television footage (SCTV and MetroTV, June 11) showing Indonesian fishing boats being burned is over ten years old, Australian Ambassador to Indonesia Bill Farmer said in an embassy media release on Thursday.
"The airing of footage showing Indonesian fishing boats being burned was quite mischievous as this footage is actually over ten years old," Ambassador Bill Farmer.
"This old television footage does not reflect the high level of cooperation
that exists between Indonesia and Australia," Farmer said.
He added that this cooperation saw the number of Indonesian fishing vessels
detained by Australia drop to 121 in 2007, down from 365 in 2006.
Farmer said continued cooperation and education should see this figure drop
further in 2008.
The footage appears to have been taken from a 2002 documentary, he said, adding
that the original footage, of an Indonesian fishing vessel being destroyed by
fire, dates back to 1996.
In the original footage, the vessel was being towed to port, but, was later
deemed to be unsafe and unseaworthy and therefore destroyed at sea after all
Indonesian fishermen were transferred to an Australian patrol vessel.
Shots were fired into the hull to ensure the vessel would sink after it was set
on fire. The practice of firing into vessels is no longer used.
Misunderstandings regarding permissible and non-permissible fishing activities
can occur in an area of water, north of the Australia-Indonesia border, where
Indonesia has jurisdiction for the management of swimming fish and Australia
has jurisdiction for the management of sedentary fish species.
To alleviate any confusion regarding allowable activities, the Indonesia and
Australia Governments regularly provide updated information to fishing
communities throughout Eastern Indonesia.
Farmer said the Australian Government does not step back from its tough stance on illegal fishing and we are committed to working closely with Indonesia to address this common challenge.
"The airing of footage showing Indonesian fishing boats being burned was quite mischievous as this footage is actually over ten years old," Ambassador Bill Farmer.
"This old television footage does not reflect the high level of cooperation
that exists between Indonesia and Australia," Farmer said.
He added that this cooperation saw the number of Indonesian fishing vessels
detained by Australia drop to 121 in 2007, down from 365 in 2006.
Farmer said continued cooperation and education should see this figure drop
further in 2008.
The footage appears to have been taken from a 2002 documentary, he said, adding
that the original footage, of an Indonesian fishing vessel being destroyed by
fire, dates back to 1996.
In the original footage, the vessel was being towed to port, but, was later
deemed to be unsafe and unseaworthy and therefore destroyed at sea after all
Indonesian fishermen were transferred to an Australian patrol vessel.
Shots were fired into the hull to ensure the vessel would sink after it was set
on fire. The practice of firing into vessels is no longer used.
Misunderstandings regarding permissible and non-permissible fishing activities
can occur in an area of water, north of the Australia-Indonesia border, where
Indonesia has jurisdiction for the management of swimming fish and Australia
has jurisdiction for the management of sedentary fish species.
To alleviate any confusion regarding allowable activities, the Indonesia and
Australia Governments regularly provide updated information to fishing
communities throughout Eastern Indonesia.
Farmer said the Australian Government does not step back from its tough stance on illegal fishing and we are committed to working closely with Indonesia to address this common challenge.
