PORT BLAIR: The Indian Coast Guard on Monday apprehended an Indonesian fishing vessel with 39 crew members for illegally fishing in Indian waters 140 km south-east of Indira Point, Great Nicobar Island.

The fishing boat Saudara Bahagia was first sighted by the Coast Guard aircraft Dornier on October 29, and Coast Guard ship Rajshree was diverted to the area for investigation.

Commandant Dalip Singh, public relations officer of the Coast Guard, Andaman and Nicobar region, told the New Indian Express, “The Indonesian boat was fishing in the Indian Exclusive Economic Zone which is in clear violation to the Maritime Zones of India Act 1981. On being detected by the ICG ship, the intruding fishing vessel tried to flee.”

However the Coast Guard ship successfully intercepted the fleeing vessel along with its crew, said Singh adding that the boat had 10 tonnes of fresh fish onboard at the time of apprehension. The boat and the crew were being escorted to Campbell Bay port for further investigation.

Source: The New Indian Express