Illegal, unreported, and unregulated (IUU) fishing |20 July 2020

The Sri Lankan fishing boat being escorted to Port Victoria by ‘Topaz’

Sri Lankan vessel apprehended for illegal fishing in Seychelles’ waters

Another Sri Lankan fishing boat suspected of illegal fishing in the Seychelles’ exclusive economic zone was apprehended by the Seychelles Coast Guard patrol vessel ‘Topaz’ last Thursday.

The fishing boat, with six fishermen onboard, was spotted by the Seychelles Air Force (SAF) Dornier Maritime Patrol Aircraft (MPA) during a routine surveillance operation on the Mahe Plateau, South East of Mahe.

The boat was instructed to divert to Port Victoria for further investigation. Because of the current COVID-19 pandemic, no boarding operations have been conducted.

The boat and crew have been placed on quarantine and will be cleared by local Public Health Authority as per established protocols before Seychelles Fishing Authority (SFA) inspectors and the police proceed on board for further inspections.

This is the fourth illegal fishing vessel intercepted by the Seychelles Coast Guard this year. The last one, was in April.

Press release from the Seychelles People’s Defence Forces