British Navy Arrests Illegal Indian Tuna Fishers

The British Navy detained 10 Indian tuna fishermen near Diego Garcia Island, the largest archipelago of Chagos, in the Indian Ocean during the wee hours of Monday. The fishers, who hail from the South Indian state of Tamil Nadu, were accused of crossing the International Maritime Boundary Line (IMBL) that defines the division between the maritime zones of two neighboring countries. Chagos was a UK territory but was handed over to Mauritius last year after years of dispute over its ownership. But the military base in Diego Garcia, jointly operated by the US and the UK, was retained.

The artisanal boat ‘Benadicta’ which was captured, was sailing with its owner, his family, and some crew members to catch tuna in the Indian Ocean. This vessel has previously been seized on two separate occasions for allegedly crossing international borders, reported Indian news sites. The Tamil Nadu state authorities have urged the central government in Delhi to take action and accelerate the release of the fishers.