02 February 2015 – Ministry of Maritime Affairs and Fisheries in Bitung Port Head Frits P. Lesnussa called on Philippine Consul General Jose D.R. Burgos in the Consulate General on January 29. The meeting was an opportunity to discuss recent fisheries regulations in Indonesia involving Filipino fishermen and the tuna and fish processing industries in Bitung City.

The Consul General also took the opportunity to highlight the significant investments of Filipino fishing and canning companies in Bitung City, North Sulawesi, which has become a significant employer to the local economy. He also highlighted the need to protect traditional and small-scale fishermen in the Philippines-Indonesia Maritime Border, possibly through the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) between the Philippines and Indonesia to allow small-scale and traditional fishermen with fishing boats less than 10 gross tonnage access to traditional fishing waters in the Sulawesi Sea and other areas. END