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Indonesia's maritime security faces increasingly complex challenges due to the rise of hybrid threats that combine traditional and non-traditional elements. One of the main threats is the shadow fleet, operating covertly with unregistered ships, evading detection, and exploiting weaknesses in maritime surveillance to engage in illegal activities such as smuggling, illegal transshipment, and unlawful exploitation of natural resources. This phenomenon exacerbates Indonesia's maritime security situation, particularly in strategic areas like the Natuna Sea and the Sunda Strait, which are vulnerable to geopolitical conflicts and overlapping territorial claims. Additionally, transnational crimes such as piracy, drug trafficking, and human trafficking further undermine security in Indonesian waters. To address these threats, Indonesia needs to strengthen its maritime surveillance capacity by adopting advanced technologies such as early detection sistems and the Automatic Identification Sistem (AIS), as well as enhancing coordination between maritime agencies like Bakamla and the Indonesian Navy (TNI AL) to improve responses to harder-to-detect threats. Moreover, international cooperation with neighboring countries and regional maritime organizations like ASEAN must be bolstered to tackle cross-border threats. Strengthening surveillance, modernizing technology, and fostering more integrative maritime diplomacy will be crucial in safeguarding Indonesia's maritime sovereignty and ensuring the stability of this increasingly strategic maritime region.

This research analyzes the Indonesian government’s policy responses to combating Illegal, Unreported, and Unregulated (IUU) Fishing in the Arafura Sea during 2023-2024, focusing on the case of the Run Zeng 03 and Run Zeng 05 vessels. These foreign-flagged vessels, owned by a Chinese company but registered under the Russian flag, were involved in illegal fishing and human rights violations against Indonesian fishery crew members. Using a qualitative descriptive approach supported by literature studies and official government data, this research analyzes how Indonesia implemented its maritime sovereignty through legal enforcement, inter-agency coordination, and international maritime diplomacy. The findings reveal that Indonesia’s measures, such as vessel monitoring AIS/VMS technology, law enforcement through arrests and seizures, and diplomatic engagement with flag states reflect a progressive but still reactive approach. The study identifies key challenges, including limited foreign authorities. This research highlights the need for an integrated policy framework that combines hard power (law enforcement and patrols) with soft power (international cooperation, economic diplomacy, and labor protection). The study concludes that a comprehensive and collaborative approach is essential to strengthen maritime governance and ensure sustainable, equitable management of Indonesia’s marine resources.