Mozambican authorities have struck a blow against illegal fishing with the seizure and confiscation of an unlicensed Namibian vessel fishing for sharks off the central Mozambican coast.
Fisheries Minister Cadmiel Muthemba said a legitimate Mozambican fishing company spotted the Namibian ship, the Antillas Reefer, and alerted the authorities. The ministry investigated and ordered the ship to head south and put in at
When fishing inspectors weighed the ship’s cargo, they found it was carrying 43 tons of shark, four tons of shark fin, 1,8 tons of shark tail, 11,3 tons of shark liver, and 20 tons of shark oil.
Shark fins are a delicacy in
The value of this catch was put at about $5-million (about R38-million).
The ship was unlicensed, it was taking species that may not be fished in Mozambican waters and it was using banned gear.
The ministry imposed a fine of $4,5-million on the ship’s owners. It has also confiscated the ship and everything on board.
The Antillas Reefer was brought to Mozambican waters by a Mozambican company, Sabpal Pescas. Sabpal had told the ministry the vessel would fish for tuna - but before any license was issued, and before the fishing gear was inspected, the Antillas Reefer was scouring the seas for shark.
Muthemba promised that Sabpal would lose its license, and that the government would report the companies involved to organizations involved in fighting illegal fishing.