JBN.CO.ID ■ The Minister of Maritime Affairs and Fisheries, Edhy Prabowo, asked fisheries entrepreneurs in various regions to orderly pay taxes and not to over-fish so as to make marine resources unsustainable.
Edhy asked capture fisheries businesses to report their catch correctly and business actors were encouraged to carry the concept of sustainability in running a business.
"Sometimes because we already feel 10 profit, we want 100 profit. Luckily 100, we want 1,000. We must make a commitment and agreement if we all will maintain the sustainability and continuity of our business in the marine industry," he explained in a press release in Jakarta on Wednesday (11/20).
In order to ensure that these fishing businesses continue to provide profits and be able to sustain the lives of business people and their workers, his party has appealed to businesses not to over-fishing.
"Business actors play an important role for the country's economy through tax revenues from the fisheries sector. Government policies prohibiting transshipment or loading and unloading in the middle of the sea are also carried out on the basis of these considerations," he said.
Minister Edhy is of the opinion that loading and unloading in the middle of the sea opens up opportunities for businesses to transfer their catches to transport vessels that have been waiting on the high seas to then be sent abroad at a higher price.
"Any country will have no power without involving the people (fishermen). Any country whose economy will not be strong if its business actors are not given the broadest place to try," he said.
Minister Edhy also reminded that capture fisheries businesses should not be involved in various criminal acts such as drug smuggling, protected animals, slavery, or human trafficking.
■ JBN/rls
