JAKARTA, INDONESIA — Indonesia has been waging a war on illegal fishing since 2014, claiming the practice negatively impacts the local economy.
The Wall Street Journal reports that the country has seized and destroyed more than 170 trespassing foreign boats. The vessels are often blown up as part of the crackdown, in an effort to prevent precious ocean resources from being taken.
In recent years, a growing number of Vietnamese nationals have been fishing illegally in Indonesian waters, according to the Vietnam News Agency.
Three hundred and twelve fishermen have been arrested and are currently being detained, though around 200 will soon be repatriated back to Vietnam.
Both countries are reportedly working together to curb the influx of offenders, which Vietnamese authorities blame on the fishermen’s limited knowledge of geography and the law.
