Eight fishermen held over alleged compressor fishing near Monkey Island
Police say eight fishermen were arrested during a joint maritime patrol near Monkey Island, Labuan Bajo, on 16 January 2025 over alleged illegal compressor fishing.
By Pandi Muktar
Editor: Mursyid Sonsang
· Event date: · 4 min read
Labuan Bajo — — Police in West Manggarai say eight fishermen were arrested during a joint maritime patrol in the waters off Labuan Bajo on Thursday, 16 January 2025, over alleged illegal compressor fishing near Monkey Island.
According to a statement relayed by West Manggarai Police Chief AKBP Christian Kadang and reported by local media, six of the suspects are from Sumbawa in West Nusa Tenggara and two are from Labuan Bajo.
The operation followed complaints from local residents about repeated use of compressor equipment for fishing in Labuan Bajo waters, including areas around Komodo National Park, prompting officers to monitor suspected activity over several weeks before the arrests.
The men were identified in police accounts only by their initials — A, H, J, K, LZ, MT, S and Y — and are reported to be between 21 and 45 years old.
Joint patrol and seized evidence
Police said the arrests were carried out by a joint patrol on board the KP Kutilang 5005 vessel from the National Police maritime unit, working with the East Nusa Tenggara Water and Air Police Directorate and the West Manggarai Water Police.
The suspects were transferred to the patrol vessel after being detained in waters off Monkey Island, roughly two nautical miles from the Labuan Bajo marina, according to one media report citing the West Manggarai police chief.
In an account published by regional outlet Ekorantt, the police chief said officers seized one motorized fishing boat, one compressor unit with a 100-metre hose, seven spearguns and two fibre cooler boxes containing about 350 kilograms of mixed fish, along with other items.
Police described the compressor as prohibited gear when used as a breathing aid for divers engaged in fishing, saying it forms part of destructive fishing practices that can endanger users and damage marine ecosystems.
Christian Kadang told reporters that using engine-driven compressors to supply air to divers can expose them to serious health risks, including decompression illness, hearing damage, paralysis and death, and that air from the compressor can be contaminated by exhaust gases from the driving engine.
Investigation and alleged offences
The eight suspects were placed under investigation by the joint maritime team following the patrol, according to police.
Media reports quoting the West Manggarai police chief said the case is being handled under Article 85 of Law No. 45 of 2009, which amends Indonesia’s Fisheries Law No. 31 of 2004, together with Article 55(1)(1) of the Criminal Code on joint criminal responsibility.
Police said the cited fisheries provision carries a maximum penalty of five years in prison and a fine of up to Rp2 billion for those convicted, though they did not specify whether prosecutors had yet filed formal charges or whether the case had reached court.
According to the same accounts, the suspects admitted to using compressors for fishing for about a year, moving between Labuan Bajo waters, parts of Komodo National Park and Nisar waters in South Lembor.
Police urged other fishers not to use compressors, chemicals or trawl nets, framing the arrests as part of broader efforts to curb destructive fishing and protect marine ecosystems and local livelihoods in the Labuan Bajo and Komodo National Park area.
Timeline and wider enforcement
Statements from the West Manggarai police chief and regional media reports indicate that officers began focused monitoring of suspected compressor fishing in early January 2025 following public complaints.
The joint patrol detained the eight fishermen on 16 January 2025, and the police chief publicly detailed the operation and seized evidence the following day.
Subsequent coverage by regional media has linked the case to a wider crackdown on illegal and unlicensed fishing around Labuan Bajo, including separate patrols that have detained multiple vessels and crews for fisheries violations in January 2025.
As of the latest available reports, the legal process for the eight suspects remains in the investigative phase, and they are treated as alleged offenders pending any court decision.
Sources
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