Susi Pudjiastuti, Indonesia's Minister of Maritime Affairs and Fisheries, informed that still not all fishery products that are captured in Indonesian seas and waters are reported to the government. For example, in 2015 only 6 million tons of captured fish were reported to authorities, while it is estimated that production in fact reached 7.4 million tons, implying a 18 percent difference between "legal" and "illegal" fisheries production in Indonesia. In fact, Indonesia's Maritime Affairs and Fisheries Ministry believes the figure is much higher.

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Indonesia has become one of the largest - if not the largest - tuna producing countries around the globe. It is estimated that Indonesia supplies about one million tons of the saltwater finfish per year or 16 percent of the world's total tuna supply. As such, the tuna fishing industry has become a vital component of Indonesia's fishing industry and an increasingly important foreign exchange earner within the overall economy. Susi Pudjiastuti, Minister of Maritime and Fisheries, is confident that Indonesia will enhance its key role in the world's tuna industry.

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Ever since Indonesian President Joko Widodo appointed Susi Pudjiastuti as Indonesia's Minister of Maritime Affairs in October 2014, this ministry has received plenty of attention from the media. When appointed, media were skeptical about Pudjiastuti, a businesswoman who is regarded eccentric for being a divorce, having a tattoo and being a smoker. However, she has survived cabinet reshuffles, turned into a media darling, and - most importantly - Indonesia's fishery sector has grown strongly under her leadership.

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The recently exposed case that involves illegal fishery, abuse and even alleged slavery on and near the remote island of Benjina (East Indonesia) has taken another turn after a key witness in the case was found dead in a hotel in Central Jakarta over the weekend. Yoseph Sairlela, adviser at Indonesia’s Maritime Affairs and Fisheries Ministry, was beaten to death according to local media. Indonesia's National Police stated that it suspects the murder is related to the ‘Benjina-case’. The ministry requested police protection for other key witnesses.

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The new cabinet of Indonesia, which had been announced by Indonesian President Joko Widodo on Sunday (27/10), will be inaugurated this morning at 10:30 am local Jakarta time zone, followed by a plenary cabinet meeting at 14:00 pm. Reactions from people and markets are mixed. Although it is positive that the cabinet includes several professional technocrats (contrary to political party politicians) on key positions such as the Finance Ministry and the Coordinating Ministry for Economics, there is criticism on the ‘reformist nature’ of the cabinet.

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Indonesian Minister of Maritime and Fisheries Susi Pudjiastuti said Indonesia could raise the (illegal) fishing dispute between Indonesia and China - that occurred near the Natuna Islands in the South China Sea over the weekend - at the International Tribunal for the Law of the Sea if China's authorities fail to respect Indonesia’s sovereignty over its sea territory. Last Saturday (19/03) a Chinese ship (Kway Fey 10078) was spotted fishing illegally within Indonesia's Exclusive Economic Zone in the South China Sea. Its crew was arrested and ship confiscated. However, two armed Chinese coast guard ships arrived to intervene.

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