Nigerian Navy Commended For Arrest Of 4 Chinese Vessels Engaged In Illegal Fishing

Nigerian Navy Commended For Arrest Of 4 Chinese Vessels Engaged In Illegal Fishing

The Federal Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development (FMARD) has commended the efforts of the Nigerian Navy in combating Illegal, Unreported and Unregulated Fishing (IUU) in the Nigerian territorial waters. This commendation followed the recent arrest of       four (4) Chinese fishing vessels, MFT Anqi 1 LA 1025, MFT Anqi 2 LA 1026, MFT Anqi 3 LA 107 and MFT Anqi 4 LA 1028 caught fishing within the Non Trawling Zone (2-6 nautical miles) on 26 August 2017.

The FMARD observed that the arrest of the vessels is a confirmation of the commitment of the CNS to rid-off the Nigerian territorial waters of illegal fishing activities. The FMARD therefore revealed that appropriate actions had been taken to ensure sanctions are metted out to the erring fishing companies in accordance with Sea Fisheries Act    of 1992.

Consequently, the Ministry pledged to continue to collaborate and partner with the Nigerian Navy in making sure that the Nigerian territorial waters is totally safe and free of Illegal, Unreported, and Unregulated (IUU) fishing.