President Prabowo to Build 1,582 Fishing Vessels Against Poaching

RRI.CO.ID, Jakarta – President Prabowo Subianto has announced plans to construct 1,582 fishing vessels next year as part of a strategic move to curb the theft of Indonesia’s marine and natural resources by foreign entities.

He emphasized his administration’s resolve to prevent foreign fishermen from occupying Indonesian waters and depleting local fish stocks. This effort addresses a critical challenge that has persisted for years.

The President noted that tens of thousands of foreign vessels have long been illegally harvesting resources from the Indonesian archipelago.

“Tens of thousands of foreign ships are taking from our waters. Next year, I will build 1,582 fishing vessels, ranging from 150, 200, 300, 500, up to 2,000 GT (Gross tonnage),” said President Prabowo on Tuesday, March 24, 2026.

He intends to maintain an annual production target of 1,500 vessels, a project he believes will serve as a significant catalyst for job creation.

“Our plan is to ship 1,500 ships every year. This will generate employment across 80 shipyards, and we already have 60. Each ship will require a crew of 20 to 30 people,” he explained.

This domestic initiative is bolstered by international partnerships formed during the President's state visit to the United Kingdom earlier this year. Indonesia and the UK have established a maritime cooperation agreement, which includes a British commitment to support the construction of thousands of ships through an investment valued at Pounds 4 billion (USD 5,36 miliar), or approximately IDR 90 trillion (USD 5.33 billion).

"They will support our plan to build 1,500 fishing vessels," remarked the President following a meeting with British Prime Minister Keir Starmer in London on Wednesday, January 21, 2026.

According to the president, the government is prepared to make massive investments through this strategic partnership to secure national interests. (Annaila Azzahra/Bambang MBKA)