Papua to Deport 26 Filipino Fishermen for Illegal Fishing
Biak Numfor in Papua will deport 26 Filipino fishermen who were caught illegally fishing in Indonesian waters. The deportation follows their arrest in May and highlights ongoing issues of illegal fishing and international maritime law enforcement.
Deportation Details
Authorities in Papua are set to deport 26 Filipino nationals on June 17. This action follows their arrest on May 9 for unauthorized fishing activities within Indonesian waters, according to officials. Gen. Samuel Toba, the head of Papua Immigration and Correctional Services, announced the decision on Saturday.
The deportees, members of two fishing vessels, will depart from Frans Kaisiepo Airport in Biak. Jose Rizal, the Biak Numfor Immigration Office head, was also present at the press briefing. Officials hope to expedite the process, reducing stress for those detained since May.
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“The deportation process of the FB Twin J-04 and YB Yanreyd-293 crew members could hopefully be more quickly completed.”
—Gen. Samuel Toba, Papua Immigration and Correctional Services head
Illegal fishing is a persistent global problem. The Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations estimates that illegal, unreported, and unregulated (IUU) fishing accounts for up to 26 million tons of fish caught annually, costing the global economy billions of dollars (FAO 2024).
Cooperation and Procedures
To facilitate the repatriation, coordination has occurred with the Philippine Embassy in Jakarta and the Philippine Consulate in Manado. This cooperation aims to secure the necessary travel documents for the departing individuals.
The deportation underscores Indonesia’s commitment to enforcing its maritime laws. Further, it highlights the collaborative efforts between nations in managing illegal fishing.
