Vanuatu authorities have seized two Chinese tuna-fishing vessels after they were accused of engaging in illegal, unreported, and unregulated (IUU) fishing activities.

The Dong Gang Xing 13 and Dong Gang Xing 16 – both built by a major Chinese tuna firm in 2018 and currently registered to the Zhuhai, China-based company Zhuhai Donggangxing Ocean Fishing – have been remanded into custody after being found allegedly fishing illegally in Vanuatu’s northern waters near the remote Torres Islands, reports Seafood Source.

Vanuatu’s naval authorities received assistance from a French naval reconnaissance plane from the French territory of New Caledonia before the vessels were detained by a Vanuatu patrol boat, reported the news portal.

The crew on the fishing vessels is currently in COVID-19-related quarantine in Port Vila, Vanuatu, and will be subject to interrogation as part of an investigation by the Vanuatu Fisheries Department, according to an announcement by the Vanuatu Police Department as reported by the news portal.

Source: Just Earth News

BDST: 1845 HRS, JAN 29, 2021
AP