Dili, April 23, 2026 (Lusa) - Timor-Leste's prime minister, Xanana Gusmao, said on Thursday the government wants to buy a large vessel to boost control over resources in the Timor Sea.

“Once we have trained the necessary personnel, we will acquire a large vessel so that we can monitor resources at sea, including fishing," Gusmão told journalists after a weekly meeting with the president, Jose Ramos-Horta.

The prime minister said the country loses tens of millions of dollars because of illegal fishing in its waters.

"We still lack enough capacity to control our sea. Therefore, we have discussed in a cabinet meeting the need to ask police to train personnel capable of operating large vessels," he said.

He also acknowledged the country needs larger ships for the Timor Sea, as small vessels cannot withstand the waves.

He also praised the maritime police, who recently detained 32 foreign citizens for illegal fishing off Timor-Leste’s south coast.

"Illegal fishermen take all of Timor-Leste's fish, sell the best quality and throw the rest back into the sea," he said.

The interior minister, Francisco da Costa Guterres, said on Wednesday that Xanana Gusmao told the ministries of defence, interior, transport and communications, and agriculture and fisheries to increase coordination to strengthen maritime patrolling and prevent illegal fishing.

"We have held two meetings, and the prime minister asked us to continue coordination to prepare necessary conditions to resume south coast patrols," the minister added.

To improve control over maritime resources, Timor-Leste also needs to resolve maritime border delimitation with Indonesia to strengthen surveillance operations.

DPYF/LYT // AYLS

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