VOI - Voice of Indonesia | RRI - Radio Republik Indonesia

Indonesia and Australia inaugurated the maritime operation Gannet 5, a coordinated patrol to maintain the security and safety in the borders. This operation aims to eradicate illegal practices that cause loss for the two countries, including the illegal fishing. The coordinated patrol was written in the MoU signing held on Monday (24/5). This cooperation involves Indonesian Maritime Security Board (Bakamla), Indonesian Ministry of Maritime Affairs and Fisheries, Australian Border Force (ABF), and Australian Fisheries Management Authority (AFMA).

Despite the pandemic, Indonesia and Australia keeps being committed to cooperating in creating regional stability, especially at the two countries' border. That was stated by Acting Director General for Marine Resources and Fisheries Monitoring, Antam Novambar. He added that with Gannet 5 coordinated patrol, both countries keep showing their commitment in eradicating illegal practices that affect the two countries' prosperity, including illegal fishing. According to Antam, Gannet 5 is also a concrete commitment of both countries in implementing the Indonesia-Australia Joint Declaration on Maritime Cooperation signed in 2017.

Australian Maritime Border Command (MBC) Commander Rear Admiral Mark Hill said that Australia and Indonesia have the longest border area in the world, which comes with great risk against maritime security and safety. He also said that as sovereign countries, Indonesia and Australia have challenges in jurisdiction to information sharing. The issues vary starting from natural resources exploitation, drugs smuggling, to terrorism; all that cannot be done by one agency or one country only.

Meanwhile, Bakamla's Deputy for Policy and Strategy, Tatit Eko Witjaksono explained, coordinated patrol between Indonesia and Australia has been done since 2013 under the code Operation Shearwater.  In 2018, the code changed into Operation Gannet. He explained, in the beginning of Covid-19 pandemic in early 2020, both nations agreed to postpone the Operation Gannet to avoid virus infection. However, it was proven successfully that the pandemic did not reduce the commitment in maintaining the border security and safety of both countries.