Indonesia is looking to address overfishing concerns in four of its regional waters.
Soen'an Hadi Poernomo of Indonesia's Marine and Fisheries Ministry said some waters are overcrowded with fishing vessels.
Particularly vulnerable were the Java Sea, the Arafura Sea, the Karimata Straits and the Sulawesi Sea. He highlighted the need for regional cooperation in fisheries management and would look into the possibility of implementing regulations to manage fishing schedules and equipment.
The ministry is looking to implement bycatch quotas and possibly reduce the number of vessels operating in these waters.
At a recent Food and Agriculture Organization meeting in Rome, Indonesia was represented by Ajoi Salarso, director general of Marine Resources at the Marine and Fisheries Ministry. He said he and many other participants at the Committee on Fisheries meeting are willing to participate in the development of bycatch management and discard reduction.
