The Nigerian Navy says it has arrested two Nigerian flagged fishing trawlers, Banaly V and Olokun V for violating the range specified within Nigerian waters for inshore fishing and shrimping activities.
The Director of Information, Navy, Commodore Suleman Dahun made this known in a statement on Monday in Abuja.
Dahun said the vessels were arrested around Antan Field which is 21 nautical miles of the Nigerian coastline.
He said the activities of the two trawlers were detected by the Nigerian Navy Falcon Eye surveillance system.
“Thereafter, Nigerian Navy Ship Unity was vectored to intercept the vessels and it was discovered that they were laden with excess catch of fishes in contravention of the Nigerian Fisheries Act as the vessel are licensed for shrimping only.
“This eventually led to the arrest of the 2 vessels.
“The vessels are currently at Bonny Anchorage for further investigation and possible prosecution,” he said.
He said following the arrest of the vessels, commanders of Nigerian Navy ships had been directed to pay attention to the activities of fishing trawlers within Nigerian waters in order to reduce illegal activities.
Discussion about this post