DILI, 23 April 2026 (TATOLI) — Prime Minister Xanana Gusmão said resolving maritime boundary negotiations with Indonesia is critical to stopping illegal fishing in the Timor Sea, which he said is costing the country tens of millions of dollars each year.
Speaking after meeting President José Ramos-Horta at the Presidential Palace in Dili on Thursday, Gusmão said the government is accelerating talks to define maritime borders in order to strengthen surveillance and law enforcement in national waters.
“I informed the President of the Republic that on Saturday (25/04) I will travel to Singapore to attend the third round of negotiations on maritime boundaries. We hope these talks will produce a common understanding, because every year we lose tens of millions of dollars in the Timor Sea,” he told reporters.
Gusmão said limited monitoring capacity remains a key challenge, allowing foreign vessels to continue illegal fishing activities in Timor-Leste’s waters.
He said the issue had been discussed at the Council of Ministers, which instructed the Polícia Nacional de Timor-Leste (PNTL), through its Maritime Police Unit, to strengthen human resource capacity, including training personnel to operate large vessels for offshore patrols.
“Once human resources are ready, only then we can procure large patrol vessels to control our marine resources, especially fish. Preparing human resources is the priority before acquiring equipment,” he said.
The Prime Minister said that the purchase of patrol vessels will follow once personnel are fully trained, alongside continued efforts to finalise maritime boundaries with Indonesia to improve enforcement effectiveness.
Secretary of State for Fisheries Domingos dos Santos said the absence of clearly defined maritime borders has complicated enforcement against illegal fishing.
“When offenders are caught, they often claim they are in their own territory. This happens because the maritime boundary has not been clearly defined,” he said.
Data from the Directorate-General of Inspection and Monitoring Systems shows that between 2024 and April 2026, at least 38 vessels were involved in illegal fishing in the Timor Sea.
Authorities estimate losses of around 2,280 tonnes of fish, valued at approximately $48.6 million.
Journalist: Camilio de Sousa
Editor: Filomeno Martins
