Indonesia sinks 23 foreign fishing boats

Jakarta: Indonesian authorities have blown up 23 foreign vessels that were captured for fishing illegally in the country's waters.

The boats, 13 from Vietnam and 10 from Malaysia, were blown up simultaneously today in seven ports from Tarakan in northern Kalimantan to Ranai in Aceh province.

Minister of Maritime Affairs and Fisheries Susi Pudjiastuti witnessed the destruction via live-streamed Internet video at her office in downtown Jakarta.

Indonesia, the world's largest archipelago nation, has taken a tough stance against illegal fishing since President Joko "Jokowi" Widodo took office in 2014.

Pudjiastuti has overseen the capture of about 200 illegal fishing boats from several countries after declaring a fishing moratorium for foreign vessels.

A total of 174 illegal fishing boats have been blown up since then.