Natuna Fishermen Endure Growing Anxiety

KOMPAS/PANDU WIYOGA

Rustam (48) prepares to go to sea to catch tuna from Teluk Baruk Harbor, Sepempang Village, East Bunguran District, Natuna Regency, Riau Islands, on Saturday (26/3/2022).

A Chinese Coast Guard vessel has been found sailing in the North Natuna Sea. Its maneuvers are disturbing traditional fishermen of Natuna, Riau Islands, in their daily work.

BATAM, KOMPAS — Traditional fishermen in Natuna, Riau Islands, are troubled by the presence of a Chinese Coast Guard vessel maneuvering to intercept the course of their boats in the North Natuna Sea. In addition, Natuna fishermen have also reported the pervasive appearance of foreign fishing boats in the waters.

One of the fishermen, Dedi, 38, said on Monday (12/9/2022) he and his three peers encountered a China Coast Guard (CCG) vessel with starboard number 5403 on Thursday (8/9). The vessel was maneuvering to divert the course of the Natuna fishermen.

“I was rounded by the vessel. It was going to change the course of my boat, but I kept sailing straight on the route leading to the southeast,” said Dedi when contacted from Batam, Riau Islands, on Monday (12/9).

Dedi and the three peers had been in the North Natuna Sea since Thursday (1/9) and only returned to moor on Natuna Island on Monday morning (12/9).

Apart from the CCG-5403, they also saw very large foreign fishing boats. “I didn’t notice the flags of the vessels. However, we believed they were fishing boats from China or Taiwan, because their bodies were [made of] iron and large-sized. They were very different from the Vietnamese fishing boats we’ve often seen,” added Dedi.

PANDU WIYOGA

Disputed territory in the South China Sea.

Chairman of the Alliance of Natuna Fishermen, Hendri, indicated that foreign fishing boats had indeed been intensifying their operation in the North Natuna Sea over the last two years. Even recently, foreign fishing boats dared to operate in the waters only 30 nautical miles (55.56 kilometers) from Laut Island, the frontier island in Natuna regency.

Separately, a researcher of the Indonesia Ocean Justice Initiative (IOJI), Imam Prakoso, said the CCG-5403 vessel had been cruising within the Indonesian exclusive economic zone (EEZ) since 19 July 2022. The conclusion was based on a data analysis of the automatic identification system (AIS).

“[The CCG-5403] is not simply passing. It’s clearly patrolling,

because it’s sailing back and forth and going into and out of the Indonesian EEZ. If it were just passing, its path would take the form of a straight line,” said Imam.

Moreover, Chinese research ship Haiyang Dizhi Shihao 10 was also detected cruising in the North Natuna Sea in August-October 2021.

Previously, Natuna fishermen were also upset by China’s destroyer, Kunming-172, on 13 September 2021. At the time, Kunming-172 was sailing in the North Natuna Sea with five other Chinese ships. Moreover, Chinese research ship Haiyang Dizhi Shihao 10 was also detected cruising in the North Natuna Sea in August-October 2021.

PASCAL BIN SADJU

Protesters hold slogans during a rally outside the Chinese consulate in Metro Manila, Philippines on Friday, May 7, 2021. The group is demanding China to get out of Philippine-claimed territory in the South China Sea.

During its sail in Natuna, the ship was escorted in turn by CCG-4303 and CCG-6305 vessels. Haiyang Dizhi Shihao 10 was switching on its AIS while operating in the North Natuna Sea.

The AIS signals emitted could be used to map out the movement of the ship. On 2-27 September 2021, Haiyang Dizhi Shihao 10 was moving on a zigzag path and presumed to be conducting undersea research in the waters around the oil-gas block of East Natuna.

Patrol activation

Asked to confirm the reports, Director of Monitoring and Fleet Operation of the Directorate General of Marine Resources and Fisheries Supervision, Ministry of Maritime Affairs and Fisheries (PSDKP-KKP), Pung Nugroho Saksono, said his office had received reports of foreign ships that distressed fishermen. According to him, the PSDKP is preparing to mobilize patrol boats to the location.

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“Earlier, on Saturday morning (10/9), we seized two Vietnamese fishing boats in Natuna [Sea]. At present, the boats are on their way to [the PSDKP base in] Pontianak,” said Pung.

Meanwhile, head of the Public Relations and Protocol Division of the Maritime Security Agency (Bakamla), Colonel Wisnu Pramandita, said Bakamla had not yet received reports. But Bakamla will continue to monitor information from fishermen. Now state ship (KN) Pulau Marore-323 is being prepared for patrol operation in Natuna.

(This article was translated by Aris Prawira)