JAKARTA, June 25 (Xinhua) -- Indonesian Minister of Maritime Affairs and Fisheries Sakti Wahyu Trenggono reaffirmed on Wednesday that small islands in the country cannot be bought or sold, emphasizing the government's commitment to protecting the ecosystem and environment.

His remarks came after five Indonesian islands were recently listed as "for sale" on the Private Islands Online website. In response, the Ministry of Maritime Affairs and Fisheries stressed that such transactions are illegal, as there is no legal basis in Indonesia allowing the sale of geographic entities like islands.

"The islands cannot be traded because existing regulations prohibit it. It is not allowed under Indonesian law," Trenggono stated.

However, he clarified that small islands can be used for tourism investment, provided that investors obtain the necessary utilization permits.

"But if there is no permit, then we will prohibit any activity," he said.

Trenggono also noted that not all islands are open for development, explaining that while some may be designated for marine tourism, others are conservation areas and must remain undisturbed.

To strengthen oversight, the ministry plans to utilize satellite technology to classify and monitor the status of the islands across the archipelago. ■