JAKARTA – Indonesian authorities destroyed on Saturday 81 foreign ships, including several from the Philippines, they earlier caught fishing illegally in their territorial waters.

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

Authorities have sunk 317 foreign vessels since then, including the most recent.

The ships were blown up at sea in 12 locations around the archipelago.

The most destroyed in one area was 26 in Natuna on the edge of South China Sea and 10 in the nearby seaport of Tarempa.

Aside from the Philippines, most of the vessels were from Malaysia, Thailand and Vietnam.

“Indonesia was upholding its sovereignty and combating illegal fishing,” said Maritime Affairs and Fisheries chief Susi Pudjiastuti, who witnessed the sinking of two ships in the port of Ambon in Maluku province.

“We hope Sino, the name of one of the ships, is the symbol of our victory against poaching after years of defeat, especially in eastern Indonesia,” Pudjiastuti said.

She expressed hope the action would deter poachers.

Pudjiastuti declared a fishing moratorium for foreign vessels immediately after taking office.

“The state’s sovereignty has to be upheld,” she said. – AP