Indonesian Maritime and Fishery Minister Fadel Muhammad said that the government is planning to set up a coast guard unit independent of the military to ensure security fro international maritime traffic in the country's waters, local media reported on Monday.

"We held two meetings to discuss the possibility of the setting up the body and the president has appointed Coordinating Political, Legal and Security Affairs Minister Djoko Suyanto to lead the execution of the plan," The minister said in a discussion session recently.

Fadel said that the implementation of the plan would also involve the Transportation Ministry, the National Police and the Navy.

Former coordinating economic minister Dorodjatun Kuntoro Jakti said that the country needed to ensure security in its waters as 50 percent of the world's shipping tonnage passed through them.

"According to an International Maritime Organization report, 3, 000 boats and ships passed through the Malacca Straits daily," he said.

He added that 60 percent of ships carrying energy supplies for developed countries in East Asia, such a Japan, also passed through Indonesian waters.

He expressed concern that currently, Indonesia was still using naval warships to safeguard its waters, including to catch foreign or local fishermen operating without permits.

"The navy warships should be used for defense purpose, not to capture fishermen," Dorodjatun said.