Chinese fishing vessel Guo Ji 809. (Photo: Melisa Romao/Sea Shepherd)
Chinese fishing vessel arrested for illegal fishing
LIBERIA
Tuesday, January 09, 2018, 01:20 (GMT + 9)
The Liberian Coast Guard and the marine conservation organizationSea Shepherd arrested the fishing vessel Guo Ji 809, with Chinese flag, for presumed illegal fishing.
The Liberian Fisheries Regulations imposes a fine of up to USD 1 million for fishing without a Liberian license, which is considered a very serious violation.
Sea Shepherd’s vessel M/Y Sam Simon detected Guo Ji 809 navigating Liberian waters and a Liberian Coast Guard ship surprised it when his crew had just picked up the fishing nets.
The fishing license granted by the Government of Liberia to Guo Ji 809 had expired on December 31, 2017, but the vessel continued fishing on January 1 and 2, despite warnings from the observer on board.
The Chinese flag fishing vessel was arrested and is now detained in the port of Monrovia, awaiting trial.
Sea Shepherd conservationist organisation has been assisting the government of Liberia to stop illegal, unreported and unregulated (IUU) fishing since February 2017. For this purpose, it has provided a civilian patrol boat that operates in the Liberian waters, under the direction of the Ministry of National Defense of Liberia.
So far, Sea Shepherd has helped Liberian authorities to arrest eight illegal fishing boats.
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