JAKARTA, Jan. 18 (Xinhua) -- Indonesian navy starts to build a military base in Anggrek sub-district of Gorontalo province, to strengthen security in waters off central Indonesia where illegal fishing has been rampant, Antara state's news agency quoted an official as saying on Thursday.
The province has 317 km coast line with 52 islands, and the waters are vulnerable on illegal fishing activity as it borders with waters of Thailand, Vietnam, Malaysia and the Philippines, local official Indra Yasin said.
"The establishment of a new navy base is expected to maximally boost security in these waters," he said.
Illegal fishing has triggered a huge financial loss for Indonesia, an archipelagic nation with over 17,500 islands.
Last year the Indonesia maritime and fishery ministry sank at least 217 foreign boats for intruding the country's waters and stealing fish.
Most of the boats in the illegal activity were from Vietnam, followed by the Philippines, Malaysia, Thailand and other nations, according to Maritime and Fishery Minister Susi Pudjiastuti.
