By Atuna
The European Commission reported two Indonesian vessels for performing IUU fishing to the Indian Ocean Tuna Commission (IOTC) secretariat.
The Vessels HOOM XIANG 11 and LINGSAR N° 8 were reported to be fishing tuna inside the EEZ of La Reunion (east of Madagascar).
Lingsar N°8 has been additionally accused of refusing to obey order when boarded and fleeing offence, which lead the vessel to be subjected to a 75.000 Euros fee when seized by French authorities.
Hoom Xiang 11 refused to be inspected and it is currently listed on the IOTC record of authorized vessels under the flag of Malaysia.
The European Commission is pressuring IOTC members to include both vessels in the IOTC’s provisional IUU list to be dealt in the next plenary, even if the deadline for the inclusion has expired as of the December 1st:
“(…) it would be important to include these vessels in the provisional IUU list taking into account the seriousness of the infringements, - fishing without authorization in a EEZ, control refusal and their offence of fleeing – the current small number of vessels in the IUU list and the time that the related CPC still has to reactâ€, stated the Commission.
Hoom Xiang 11 Lingsar no. 8
