Effectiveness of vessel sinking legal action in eradicating illegal fishing in the area of marine and fisheries resources monitoring base of Bitung, North Sulawesi

This study aimed to assess the effectiveness of vessel sinking legal action to eradicate illegal fishing practices by the Ministry of Marine and Fisheries Affairs of Indonesia (MMFAI) in the area of Marine and Fisheries Resources Monitoring Base of Bitung (MFRMBB), North Sulawesi. The assessment was carried out by analysing five aspects, 1) regulations; 2) institutional functions, duties, and authority; 3) institutional programs and planning; 4) ideal conditions; and 5) stakeholder perceptions. The research used a method of ‘content analysis’ and questionnaire survey. The result showed that the implementation to sink foreign and ex-foreign vessels by MMFAI is a legal certainty according to fisheries regulations in Indonesia; it was conducted according to functions, duties, and authorities of the implemented institutions; was conducted well; and has achieved an ideal condition which was indicated by diminishing of illegal fishing practices; it was done according to fisheries regulations and stakeholder perceptions. Finally, it can be concluded that the legal action of vessel-sinking in MFRMBB was effective in eradicating illegal fishing practices.