Preventing North Sumatra Fishermen from Crossing Indonesian Waters
The Provincial Government of North Sumatra (Pemprov) is continuing its efforts to prevent fishermen from crossing Indonesian territorial waters. To this end, the Provincial Government of North Sumatra has prepared three strategic steps: increased education for fishermen, strengthening the capacity of fishing fleets and equipment, and improved legal cooperation with the Indonesian Consulate General (KJRI) in Penang, Malaysia.
The Acting Regional Secretary of the Province of North Sumatra, Sulaiman Harahap, stated that these three steps require strong synergy between the central government, local authorities, law enforcement agencies, and Indonesian representatives abroad.
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“I hope that the district/municipal administrations and the provincial government will strengthen the education of fishermen regarding territorial boundaries and sanctions for violations. They must also be educated about GPS technology and coordinates to ensure accurate border information,” said Sulaiman Harahap during a meeting with officials from the Indonesian Consulate General in Penang at the office of the Governor of North Sumatra, Jalan Diponegoro No. 30, Medan.
In addition to education, Sulaiman believes that increasing the capacity of vessels and fishing gear is crucial for fishermen to achieve better catches without having to approach the border between Indonesia and Malaysia.
Furthermore, legal cooperation with the Indonesian Consulate General in Penang will be further strengthened to protect fishermen if they encounter problems in border areas. Sulaiman also requested the district/municipal administrations on the east coast of North Sumatra to promote the construction of floating fish lures (FADs) as an attempt to increase fish productivity in Indonesian waters.
“We must encourage this, the construction of floating fish lures (FADs), but it must be measured. We do not want the FADs to end up in the ocean as waste. That way, our fishermen do not have to travel far to the border to fish,” said Sulaiman.
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Meanwhile, the Indonesian Consul General in Penang, Wanton Saragih, revealed that the number of arrests of fishermen from North Sumatra by Malaysian authorities has decreased significantly in recent years. In 2023, 123 cases were recorded, followed by 24 in 2024, 19 in 2025, and only five in mid-2026. According to Wanton, this achievement is the result of cooperation between various parties in educating and informing fishermen about territorial water boundaries and the legal consequences of violating them.
“After we jointly intensified our education and outreach efforts with fishermen, the results were significant. We are very grateful to the Provincial Government of North Sumatra, the regional governments, and the city administrations along the east coast. We hope to be able to continue these efforts,” said Wanton Saragih.
The meeting was attended by regional secretaries of districts/cities on the east coast of North Sumatra, members of the Regional Leadership Coordination Forum (Forkopimda), relevant regional apparatus organizations (OPDs) within the Provincial Government of North Sumatra, the Indonesian Consulate General in Penang, and relevant district/city OPDs. ***REL
