This viral video, which dates back to 2016, shows Indonesian authorities demolishing 31 illegal fishing vessels from various countries.
The Indonesian Ministry of Marine Affairs and Fisheries (KKP) has seized 255 vessels for conducting illegal fishing activities across the country between January and November this year including 22 foreign ships from countries like Vietnam and Malaysia, highlighting ongoing efforts to protect its rich maritime resources, particularly in disputed areas like the North Natuna Sea.
Against this backdrop, video is going viral on social media with the claim that it shows Indonesia destroying Chinese fishing boats for illegally fishing in its waters.
Let’s check the truth
Fact Check-
We started our investigation with a reverse image search on Google and the results led us to a similar video uploaded on YouTube by TRTWorld on 22 February, 2016 with the title ‘31 illegal fishing boats sank across Indonesia’. As part of a 2016 campaign, the Indonesian Marine Affairs and Fisheries Ministry sank and demolished 31 illegal fishing vessels in five different locations.
International media outlets like Global News and YTN have shared the viral video with the same information. According to the reports, the Indonesian Ministry of Maritime Affairs and Fisheries announced that 31 illegal fishing vessels were destroyed on 22 February, 2016. The boats were empty at the time of the destruction. Furthermore, not all of the 31 vessels destroyed in the 2016 operation were Chinese. According to records, three of them were from Vietnam and seven others from Malaysia.
So, the incident in the viral video occurred in February 2016. Indonesia’s Ministry of Maritime Affairs and Fisheries destroyed boats seized in different regions of the country as part of its campaign to combat illegal fishing. Not all of the 31 boats destroyed in the 2016 operation belonged to China.
Conclusion-
Fact Crescendo found the claim made along with the viral video to be Misleading. This viral video, which dates back to 2016, shows Indonesian authorities demolishing 31 illegal fishing vessels from various countries.
Title:2016 video goes viral as Indonesia destroying Chinese boats over illegal fishing
Fact Check By: Usha ManojResult: Misleading
