Inter-agency cooperation is vital for effective criminal enforcement in the fisheries sector. The International FishFORCE Academy of Indonesia (IFFAI) was opened on the 16th of March 2017 to train enforcement officers and promote inter-agency cooperation. IFFAI is a joint initiative by the Indonesian Ministry of Maritime Affairs and Fisheries, the Indonesian National Police (Polri), and the Presidential Task Force to Combat Illegal Fishing (Task Force 115).
The inauguration and opening ceremony was attended by the Minister of Maritime Affairs and Fisheries, Susi Pudjiastuti, the National Chief of Police, General Tito Karnavian, the Indonesia Navy’s Chief of Naval Staff, Admiral Ade Supandi, the Indonesia Navy’s Deputy Chief of Naval Staff, Vice Admiral Achmad Taufiqurrahman, the Indonesia Chief of Coast Guard, Rear Admiral Ari Soedewo, Deputy Attorney General for General Crimes, Noor Rachmad, Executive Director of Jakarta Centre for Law Enforcement Cooperation (JCLEC), INP Police Brigadier General Muhamad Safei, and the Executive Director Programs of JCLEC, AFP Superintendent James Stokes. The head of the Norwegian sister-organisation of Indonesia’s Task Force 115, Gunnar Stølsvik, together with other Norwegian experts, also participated at the opening. Stølsvik gave a lecture on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS) to the IFFAI students.
IFFAI sets its objective on: (i) improving the knowledge and skills of enforcement officers in the fisheries sector; (ii) building a common perception of fisheries crime and effective inter-agency cooperation at the national and international level; (iii) facilitating the exchange of data and information between law enforcement officers in the fisheries sector on case-handling experiences, emerging modus operandi, and tools to combat fisheries crime; and (iv) strengthening the ability of enforcement officers in the fisheries sector to achieve breakthroughs in their work.
In order to create an effective response to fisheries crime, IFFAI applies a multi-legal regime approach, also known as the multi-door approach, and criminal corporate liability against the perpetrators. The first IFFAI training was held between the 16th and 25th of March at Jakarta Center for Law Enforcement Cooperation (JCLEC) in Semarang, with participants from the National Police, the Navy, the Ministry of Maritime Affairs and Fisheries, and the Attorney General’s Office. Australia provided assistance and support to the first IFFAI training.
In future trainings, other relevant agencies will also be invited, including the Coast Guard, the Supreme Court, the Tax and Customs authorities. Indonesia is now looking to collaborate with other countries and organisations to enhance capacity-building to counter fisheries crime.
