Source: Haveeru
The Maldives National Defence Force’s (MNDF) Coastguard has seized two Iranian fishing vessels that were fishing illegally in Maldivian territorial waters. The two vessels were seized during the second joint surveillance operation conducted in Maldives by the MNDF and the Indian navy.
According to the MNDF, the first vessel was discovered by an Indian surveillance plane as it was flying around 157 miles west of Haa Alifu atoll. There were 19 Iranian crew members onboard the 200-tonne fishing vessel named “Aruveenâ€, the MNDF said, adding that they had found around 35 tons of freshly caught fish, including marlins and yellow-fin tuna.
The joint operation between the Indian Navy and MNDF was a three-day operation and the second illegal fishing vessel was also found in the same area. The second vessel was seized around midnight nearly 151 miles west of Hoarafushi. According to the MNDF, there were 24 Iranians onboard the 27-metre vessel. The vessel also had 30 tons of fish in storage, MDNF officials said.
The MNDF further said that both vessels had used trawling nets to make their catch and that MNDF officials were now working to remove the trawls from the sea. Both vessels are now under the control of the MNDF.
According to a statement issued by the MNDF, the aim of the joint-operation was to find illegal fishing vessels in the Maldives Exclusive Economic Zone. The statement said that a Donier-class surveillance airplane from the Indian Navy and three Coastguard vessels to provide support were taking part in the operation. By the end of the operation, weather willing, they would have covered around 80 percent of the Maldives EEZ, the statement said.