Aris Irawan (1), Asneliwarni (2), Julian Ransangan (3), Rachel Georghea Sentani (4)
This research examines Indonesia's criminal law policy's readiness to address fisheries and maritime crimes within the Indonesian Exclusive Economic Zone (ZEEI) and its implications for achieving the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). However, in the UNCLOS 1982, Indonesia is prohibited from imposing imprisonment as a sanction for violations of the ZEEI, allowing only fines as penalties. In addition to normative issues, structural issues also pose challenges to effective law enforcement and threaten the success of Indonesia's SDGs in the fisheries sector. Using a normative legal research method with statutory, conceptual, and historical approaches. The study finds that Indonesia, as a signatory to UNCLOS 1982, must carefully adapt international rules into national laws without compromising its sovereignty. To achieve legal certainty, imprisonment as an alternative to fines should be considered. Fisheries crimes in ZEEI negatively impact SDGs by depleting fishery resources, destabilizing the economy, violating human rights, and causing environmental damage. Judges play a critical role as enforcers of legal certainty and protectors of Indonesia's national interests through the Judicial Power Law. This research underscores the need for legal reform to strengthen Indonesia’s sovereignty and sustainability in maritime law enforcement.
Adiputra, Yudha Trinoegraha, Suadi, Ayu Pratiwi, and Andi Sandi Antonius Tabusassa Tonralipu, ‘Caught in the Net: Unravelling Policy Challenges and Smuggling Dynamics in Indonesia’s Puerulus Exploitation’, Marine Policy, 169 (2024), 106336 https://doi.org/https://doi.org/10.1016/j.marpol.2024.106336
Aminuddin, Jamrud, R Farzand Abdullatif, Mashuri, Eca Indah Anggraini, Syahrul Fadholi Gumelar, and Ariantika Rahmawati, ‘Development of Convolutional Neural Network Algorithm on Ships Detection in Natuna Islands-Indonesia Using Land Look Satellite Imagery’, Remote Sensing Applications: Society and Environment, 32 (2023), 101025 https://doi.org/https://doi.org/10.1016/j.rsase.2023.101025
Amron, Amron, Rizqi Rizaldi Hidayat, Maria Dyah Nur Meinita, and Mukti Trenggono, ‘Underwater Noise of Traditional Fishing Boats in Cilacap Waters, Indonesia’, Heliyon, 7.11 (2021), e08364 https://doi.org/https://doi.org/10.1016/j.heliyon.2021.e08364
Arifin, Ridwan, Margaretha Hanita, and Arthur Josias Simon Runturambi, ‘Maritime Border Formalities, Facilitation and Security Nexus: Reconstructing Immigration Clearance in Indonesia’, Marine Policy, 163 (2024), 106101 https://doi.org/https://doi.org/10.1016/j.marpol.2024.106101
Bethel, Lonna, Henning Jessen, and Johan Hollander, ‘Implementing the Port State Measures Agreement to Combat Illegal, Unreported and Unregulated Fishing in the Caribbean’, Marine Policy, 132 (2021), 104643 https://doi.org/https://doi.org/10.1016/j.marpol.2021.104643
Chapsos, Ioannis, Juliette Koning, and Math Noortmann, ‘Involving Local Fishing Communities in Policy Making: Addressing Illegal Fishing in Indonesia’, Marine Policy, 109 (2019), 103708 https://doi.org/https://doi.org/10.1016/j.marpol.2019.103708
Chen, Yixuan, Chao Liu, Haofeng Li, and Xiongzhi Xue, ‘How Do Countries along the Maritime Silk Road Perform in Sustainable Use of Natural Resources? Progress of Natural Resources-Related SDGs’, Ecological Indicators, 149 (2023), 110194 https://doi.org/https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ecolind.2023.110194
Cormier, Roland, and Michael Elliott, ‘SMART Marine Goals, Targets and Management – Is SDG 14 Operational or Aspirational, Is “Life Below Water” Sinking or Swimming?’, Marine Pollution Bulletin, 123.1 (2017), 28–33 https://doi.org/https://doi.org/10.1016/j.marpolbul.2017.07.060
Destek, Mehmet Akif, Samuel Asumadu Sarkodie, and Ernest Frimpong Asamoah, ‘Does Biomass Energy Drive Environmental Sustainability? An SDG Perspective for Top Five Biomass Consuming Countries’, Biomass and Bioenergy, 149 (2021), 106076 https://doi.org/https://doi.org/10.1016/j.biombioe.2021.106076
Dirhamsyah, Dirham, Saiful Umam, and Zainal Arifin, ‘Maritime Law Enforcement: Indonesia’s Experience against Illegal Fishing’, Ocean & Coastal Management, 229 (2022), 106304 https://doi.org/https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ocecoaman.2022.106304
Dube, Thandekile, Timothy Dube, Tatenda Dalu, Siyamthanda Gxokwe, and Thomas Marambanyika, ‘Assessment of Land Use and Land Cover, Water Nutrient and Metal Concentration Related to Illegal Mining Activities in an Austral Semi–Arid River System: A Remote Sensing and Multivariate Analysis Approach’, Science of The Total Environment, 907 (2024), 167919 https://doi.org/https://doi.org/10.1016/j.scitotenv.2023.167919
Fajardo, Teresa, ‘To Criminalise or Not to Criminalise IUU Fishing: The EU’s Choice’, Marine Policy, 144 (2022), 105212 https://doi.org/https://doi.org/10.1016/j.marpol.2022.105212
Fontenele, Raimundo Eduardo Silveira, Francisco Wellington Ribeiro, Maria Regiane Araújo Cavalcante, and Dimitri-Alexander Lenine Bivar Ribeiro, ‘Small-Scale Fisheries as a Common Good and a Social and Solidarity Economy Practice’, Marine Policy, 168 (2024), 106305 https://doi.org/https://doi.org/10.1016/j.marpol.2024.106305
Golo, Harrison K, and Bolanle Erinosho, ‘Tackling the Challenges Confronting Women in the Elmina Fishing Community of Ghana: A Human Rights Framework’, Marine Policy, 147 (2023), 105349 https://doi.org/https://doi.org/10.1016/j.marpol.2022.105349
Gulseven, Osman, ‘Measuring Achievements towards SDG 14, Life below Water, in the United Arab Emirates’, Marine Policy, 117 (2020), 103972 https://doi.org/https://doi.org/10.1016/j.marpol.2020.103972
Guo, Ting, Qinhua Fang, Xiaoyan Jiang, Wilfred Boa Morte Zacarias, and Antonio A R Ioris, ‘Evaluation of China’s Marine Sustainable Development Based on PSR and SDG14: Synergy-Tradeoff Analysis and Scenario Simulation’, Environmental Impact Assessment Review, 111 (2025), 107753 https://doi.org/https://doi.org/10.1016/j.eiar.2024.107753
Haryanto, Tri, Yessi Rahmawati, Deni Kusumawardani, Ana Martina, Andiga Kusuma Nur Ichsan, Angga Erlando, and others, ‘Balancing Economic Returns and Conservation: A Bioeconomic Assessment of Sardinella Lemuru Fisheries Management in Muncar, Banyuwangi, Indonesia’, Social Sciences & Humanities Open, 11 (2025), 101277 https://doi.org/https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ssaho.2025.101277
Hosch, G, and G Macfadyen, ‘Killing Nemo: Three World Regions Fail to Mainstream Combatting of IUU Fishing’, Marine Policy, 140 (2022), 105073 https://doi.org/https://doi.org/10.1016/j.marpol.2022.105073
Hu, Huijuan, Weifeng Zhou, Bohui Jiang, Jiaze Zhang, and Tianfei Cheng, ‘Exploring Deep Learning Techniques for the Extraction of Lit Fishing Vessels from Luojia1-01’, Ecological Indicators, 159 (2024), 111682 https://doi.org/https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ecolind.2024.111682
Islam, Mohammad Mahmudul, and Md Shamsuddoha, ‘Coastal and Marine Conservation Strategy for Bangladesh in the Context of Achieving Blue Growth and Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs)’, Environmental Science & Policy, 87 (2018), 45–54 https://doi.org/https://doi.org/10.1016/j.envsci.2018.05.014
Kalhoro, Muhsan Ali, Qun Liu, Lixin Zhu, Zhaoyang Jiang, and Zhenlin Liang, ‘Assessing Fishing Capacity of Two Tuna Fish Species Using Different Time-Series Data in Pakistan, Northern Arabian Sea’, Estuarine, Coastal and Shelf Science, 299 (2024), 108692 https://doi.org/https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ecss.2024.108692
Keesing, John K, Cindy Bessey, Nick Mortimer, Geoffrey R Hosack, Michael D E Haywood, Melanie Orr, and others, ‘Status of Coral, Giant Clam and Sea Cucumber Communities Including CITES Listed Species on a Remote Australian Coral Reef Atoll and the Potential Impact of Illegal Fishing’, Marine Environmental Research, 204 (2025), 106915 https://doi.org/https://doi.org/10.1016/j.marenvres.2024.106915
Khan, Alexander M A, Tim S Gray, Aileen C Mill, and Nicholas V C Polunin, ‘Impact of a Fishing Moratorium on a Tuna Pole-and-Line Fishery in Eastern Indonesia’, Marine Policy, 94 (2018), 143–49 https://doi.org/https://doi.org/10.1016/j.marpol.2018.05.014
Khan, Alexander M A, Ming-guo Jiang, Xiao-qiang Yang, Izza Mahdiana Apriliani, Noir Primadona Purba, Budy Wiryawan, and others, ‘Illegal Fishing Threatens the Sustainability of Future Tuna Commodities in Indonesia’, Marine Policy, 159 (2024), 105936 https://doi.org/https://doi.org/10.1016/j.marpol.2023.105936
Kularatne, Ranil Kavindra Asela, ‘Unregulated and Illegal Fishing by Foreign Fishing Boats in Sri Lankan Waters with Special Reference to Bottom Trawling in Northern Sri Lanka: A Critical Analysis of the Sri Lankan Legislation’, Ocean & Coastal Management, 185 (2020), 105012 https://doi.org/https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ocecoaman.2019.105012
Liu, Wen-Hong, Johonsan A Fabilane, and Wen-Kai K Hsu, ‘Mitigating Marine Debris: Addressing Abandoned, Lost, and Discarded Fishing Gears (ALDFGs) in the Sulu-Sulawesi Seas through Trilateral Cooperation between the Philippines, Indonesia, and Malaysia’, Marine Pollution Bulletin, 208 (2024), 116913 https://doi.org/https://doi.org/10.1016/j.marpolbul.2024.116913
Longépé, Nicolas, Guillaume Hajduch, Romy Ardianto, Romain de Joux, Béatrice Nhunfat, Marza I Marzuki, and others, ‘Completing Fishing Monitoring with Spaceborne Vessel Detection System (VDS) and Automatic Identification System (AIS) to Assess Illegal Fishing in Indonesia’, Marine Pollution Bulletin, 131 (2018), 33–39 https://doi.org/https://doi.org/10.1016/j.marpolbul.2017.10.016
Lu, Yifan, and Satoshi Yamazaki, ‘Fish to Fight: Does Catching More Fish Increase Conflicts in Indonesia?’, World Development, 170 (2023), 106337 https://doi.org/https://doi.org/10.1016/j.worlddev.2023.106337
Ma, Xuechan, ‘An Economic and Legal Analysis of Trade Measures against Illegal, Unreported and Unregulated Fishing’, Marine Policy, 117 (2020), 103980 https://doi.org/https://doi.org/10.1016/j.marpol.2020.103980
Meilana, Lusita, Qinhua Fang, Elliott Gareth Roberts, Handoko Adi Susanto, Harrison Odion Ikhumhen, and Bryan Raveen Nelson, ‘Identification of Potential Marine Protected Areas Based on Cumulative Risk Assessment: Case Study in Balikpapan Bay, Indonesia’, Ocean & Coastal Management, 255 (2024), 107230 https://doi.org/https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ocecoaman.2024.107230
Mengo, Elena, Peter Randall, Solveig Larsonneur, Amanda Burton, Laurence Hegron, Gaetano Grilli, and others, ‘Fishers’ Views and Experiences on Abandoned, Lost or Otherwise Discarded Fishing Gear and End-of-Life Gear in England and France’, Marine Pollution Bulletin, 194 (2023), 115372 https://doi.org/https://doi.org/10.1016/j.marpolbul.2023.115372
Mensah, James Kwame, ‘Electricity and Informal Settlements: Towards Achieving SDG 7 in Developing Countries’, Energy Research & Social Science, 93 (2022), 102844 https://doi.org/https://doi.org/10.1016/j.erss.2022.102844
Mohammed, Essam Yassin, Dave Steinbach, and Paul Steele, ‘Fiscal Reforms for Sustainable Marine Fisheries Governance: Delivering the SDGs and Ensuring No One Is Left Behind’, Marine Policy, 93 (2018), 262–70 https://doi.org/https://doi.org/10.1016/j.marpol.2017.05.017
Moretti, Vinicius, Natália Ramos Corraini, Everton Luiz Melo, Marinez Eymael Garcia Scherer, and João Carlos Colmenero, ‘Progress towards the Sustainable Development Goal 14 (Life below Water) in the Context of Brazil: A Multicriteria Approach’, Sustainable Futures, 8 (2024), 100410 https://doi.org/https://doi.org/10.1016/j.sftr.2024.100410
Neto, José Belquior Gonçalves, Felipe Augusto de Alencar Goyanna, Caroline Vieira Feitosa, and Marcelo Oliveira Soares, ‘A Sleeping Giant: The Historically Neglected Brazilian Fishing Sector’, Ocean & Coastal Management, 209 (2021), 105699 https://doi.org/https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ocecoaman.2021.105699
Nirmal, Louis Anto, and Samuel Jacob, ‘Chapter Twelve - The Impact of COVID-19 in Curbing the Goals of Ensuring Sustainable Development of Life on Land (SDG 15) and below Water (SDG 14)’, in COVID-19 and the Sustainable Development Goals, ed. by Mohammad Hadi Dehghani, Rama Rao Karri, and Sharmili Roy (Elsevier, 2022), pp. 285–303 https://doi.org/https://doi.org/10.1016/B978-0-323-91307-2.00012-2
Pata, Ugur Korkut, Mustafa Tevfik Kartal, Zafer Adali, and Selin Karlilar, ‘Proposal of Fishing Load Capacity Curve and Testing Validity: Evidence from Top 20 Countries with Highest Fisheries Production by Panel Data Approaches’, Ocean & Coastal Management, 245 (2023), 106856 https://doi.org/https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ocecoaman.2023.106856
Pécastaing, Nicolas, and Juan Salavarriga, ‘The Potential Impact of Fishing in Peruvian Marine Protected Areas (MPAs) on Artisanal Fishery Poverty during El Niño Events’, Ecological Economics, 202 (2022), 107598 https://doi.org/https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ecolecon.2022.107598
Phayal, Anup, Aaron Gold, Curie Maharani, Maria Lourdes D Palomares, Daniel Pauly, Brandon Prins, and others, ‘All Maritime Crimes Are Local: Understanding the Causal Link between Illegal Fishing and Maritime Piracy’, Political Geography, 109 (2024), 103069 https://doi.org/https://doi.org/10.1016/j.polgeo.2024.103069
Phayal, Anup, Aaron Gold, Curie Maharani, Brandon Prins, and Sayed Fauzan Riyadi, ‘The Complementary Relationship between Illegal Fishing and Maritime Piracy: A Case Study of the Gulf of Guinea’, Marine Policy, 165 (2024), 106209 https://doi.org/https://doi.org/10.1016/j.marpol.2024.106209
Pires, Stephen F, George Olah, Dudi Nandika, Dwi Agustina, and Robert Heinsohn, ‘What Drives the Illegal Parrot Trade? Applying a Criminological Model to Market and Seizure Data in Indonesia’, Biological Conservation, 257 (2021), 109098 https://doi.org/https://doi.org/10.1016/j.biocon.2021.109098
Sari, Irna, Muhammad Ichsan, Alan White, Syahril Abdul Raup, and Sugeng Hari Wisudo, ‘Monitoring Small-Scale Fisheries Catches in Indonesia through a Fishing Logbook System: Challenges and Strategies’, Marine Policy, 134 (2021), 104770 https://doi.org/https://doi.org/10.1016/j.marpol.2021.104770
Soeparna, Intan Innayatun, and Ankiq Taofiqurohman, ‘Transversal Policy between the Protection of Marine Fishery Resources and Fisheries Subsidies to Address Overfishing in Indonesia’, Marine Policy, 163 (2024), 106112 https://doi.org/https://doi.org/10.1016/j.marpol.2024.106112
Solarin, Sakiru Adebola, Pradip Kundu, Pritish Kumar Sahu, and Jie Yin Law, ‘The Impact of Aggregated and Disaggregated Fisheries Production and Licensed Fishermen on Fishing Grounds Footprint: A Time Series Analysis’, Marine Pollution Bulletin, 203 (2024), 116423 https://doi.org/https://doi.org/10.1016/j.marpolbul.2024.116423
Sumaila, Ussif Rashid, ‘Chapter 14 - Illegal and Illicit Trade in Fish Catch Are Incompatible with Infinity Fish’, in Infinity Fish, ed. by Ussif Rashid Sumaila (Academic Press, 2022), pp. 175–92 https://doi.org/https://doi.org/10.1016/B978-0-12-823816-5.00022-9
Suradja, Ivana, Theresia Susanti Asih, Basir, Dysi Polite Dyspriani, Hilda Lionata, Aby Marsiyono, and others, ‘Alternating Livelihoods and Coping with Shocks: An Examination of Coastal Tourism in Indonesia amidst COVID-19’, Marine Policy, 170 (2024), 106379 https://doi.org/https://doi.org/10.1016/j.marpol.2024.106379
Suryanto, Suryanto, Duto Nugroho, Umi Muawanah, Setiya Triharyuni, Dian Oktaviani, Sandi Wibowo, and others, ‘The Potential Contribution of Indonesian Fishing Vessels in Reducing Green House Gas Emission’, Aquaculture and Fisheries, 2024 https://doi.org/https://doi.org/10.1016/j.aaf.2024.08.002
Takyi, Richard, Cynthia Addo, Badr El Mahrad, Richard Adade, Mohamed ElHadary, Francis Kofi Ewusie Nunoo, and others, ‘Marine Fisheries Management in the Eastern Central Atlantic Ocean’, Ocean & Coastal Management, 244 (2023), 106784 https://doi.org/https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ocecoaman.2023.106784
Taniu, Silviana, Dyah Wulan Sari, Dias Satria, Tri Haryanto, and Wahyu Wisnu Wardana, ‘Impact Evaluation of Cooperative Membership on Welfare: Evidence from Captured Fishery Households in Indonesia’, Marine Policy, 159 (2024), 105923 https://doi.org/https://doi.org/10.1016/j.marpol.2023.105923
Tidd, Alex N, Yannick Rousseau, Elena Ojea, Reg A Watson, and Julia L Blanchard, ‘Food Security Challenged by Declining Efficiencies of Artisanal Fishing Fleets: A Global Country-Level Analysis’, Global Food Security, 32 (2022), 100598 https://doi.org/https://doi.org/10.1016/j.gfs.2021.100598
Tirtaningtyas, Fransisca Noni, ‘Influences of Human Activities on Seabird Populations: Case Example from Jakarta Bay, Indonesia’, in Reference Module in Earth Systems and Environmental Sciences (Elsevier, 2024) https://doi.org/https://doi.org/10.1016/B978-0-443-14082-2.00068-5
Tranter, Sylvie N., Estradivari, Gabby N. Ahmadia, Dominic A. Andradi-Brown, Dominic Muenzel, Firdaus Agung, and others, ‘The Inclusion of Fisheries and Tourism in Marine Protected Areas to Support Conservation in Indonesia’, Marine Policy, 146.August (2022), 105301 https://doi.org/10.1016/j.marpol.2022.105301
Wahju, Ronny Irawan, Faridz Rizal Fachri, Mohammad Mukhlis Kamal, Yu-Jia Lin, Achmad Mustofa, Teo Andri Saputra, and others, ‘Participatory Stock Assessment in West Java Contributes to the Management of Glass Eel Fisheries in Indonesia’, Marine Policy, 163 (2024), 106103 https://doi.org/https://doi.org/10.1016/j.marpol.2024.106103