JAKARTA. Newly elected Maritime Affairs and Fisheries Minister Susi Pudjiastuti said on Friday that losses from rampant fish theft in Indonesian waters were estimated to be in the trillions of rupiah.

"The losses could reach about Rp 11 trillion," Susi said in Jakarta as quoted by Antara news agency.

According to Susi, the figures were calculated from 5,329 large-scale fishing ships of over 30 gross tonnage applying for their licensing to the government.

For the licensing of the total number of ships, the government's subsidies for the fishing industry were estimated to reach about Rp 11.5 trillion per year.

In return, the government received only about Rp 300 billion from the fishing ships, she said, emphasizing that the incomes were not comparable to calculations in the licensing of the ships.

Susi said she had ordered the revision of the existing regulations so as not to cause the state to suffer more losses.

She reiterated that high incomes from fishing industry could be used to help improve the welfare of fishermen. (hhr)

Editor: Hendra Gunawan