International Legal Protection of the Traditional Fishing Rights of Indonesian Fishermen in Australia’s Fishing Zone Around Ashmore Reef
Abstract
Indonesian traditional fishermen have been fishing in the Australian fishing zone since the early 1700s, and in 1974 Australia recognized this fishing right around Ashmore Reef, Cartier Islet, Scott Reef, Seringapatam Reef, and Browse Islet based on the MOU Box 1974, the MOU Concerning the Implementation of a Provisional Fisheries Surveillance and Enforcement Arrangement 1981, and the Agreed Minutes 1989. However, Australia has continued to arrest Indonesian fishermen exercising this right. This study analyzes why Indonesian fishermen fish in the Australian fishing zone, why Australia continues to arrest them despite having granted recognition, and what form of legal protection Indonesia should provide. This is normative legal research based on a study of documents international agreements, books, journals, and prior research as secondary data, analyzed qualitatively. The results show that Indonesian fishermen possess a traditional fishing right because the activity has been carried out from generation to generation and satisfies the elements of Article 51(1) of the 1982 UNCLOS, while Australia arrests them because Australia converted the zone into a national marine park, Indonesia and Australia define traditional fishing gear in a manner inconsistent with fishermen’s needs, and both countries have sought to stop the activity. Indonesia therefore needs to restore this traditional fishing right and establish a clear and appropriate definition of traditional fishing gear that matches fishermen’s needs and technological development.
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DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.26532/jph.v13i2.47817
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