Coast Guard intercepts two foreign fishing vessels |18 December 2014

The Seychelles Coast Guard (SCG) has intercepted two foreign fishing vessels suspected to be involved in illegal fishing in Seychelles’ exclusive economic zone (EEZ).

The two dhows were spotted by a local fishing vessel early on Tuesday December 16, some 90 nautical miles south east of Mahé.
 
The SCG immediately diverted patrol ship Topaz that was on patrol and later patrol ship Etoile as reinforcement.

The two SCG ships were supported in the operation by Seychelles Air Force aircraft that observed and tracked the vessels.

The two dhows were boarded by SCG Vessel Board Search and Seizure (VBSS) teams at around midday on Tuesday.  

Seychelles Fishing Authority (SFA) inspectors on patrol were also called in to carry out detailed search of the vessels.

The two suspected vessels were escorted to Port Victoria yesterday and handed over to the police and the SFA.

There is a total of 36 crew members on board the suspected vessels (18 on each vessel), all Iranian nationals.  
The two vessels, MAOLI and MARLIKI are registered in Iran.