Two Vietnamese Boats Caught Poaching Fishes in Riau Islands

TEMPO.CO, Tanjungpinang - Navy ship KRI Clurit 641 caught two Vietnamese boats poaching fish in the waters southeast or east west of Ranai Natuna in the Sumatra province of Riau Islands on Sunday.

The navy ship seized the Vietnamese boats following information from the Sabangmawang navy post and local fishermen, the IV/Tanjungpinang Naval Base spokesman Major Josdi Damopoli said.

Following the information, he said, KRI Clurit-641 conducted surveillanceat the Natuna waters last night.

"Officers detected the boats were in the Indonesian territorial waters conducting illegal activity. Later KRI Clurit-641 stopped and checked them," he said.

After the checking it was know that the boat named KM Kurnia GT 148 Number 5349/Bc was a Vietnamese fishing boat and Buiphunganh as its skipper.

During the checking officers found a variety of fish weighing three tons on board.

"It has three crew members but no documents. The name is put in a banner believed to deceive patrol officers," he said.

Josdy said the second boat - KM Kurnia 09 GT158 Number 5348/Bc was led by skipper Ngoyen - carried nine tons of fish.

The second boat carried 17 crew members but no valid documents. "It also put a banner carrying its name to deceive patrol officers," he added.

The two Vietnamese boats were taken to the nearest navy post in Sabangmawang for further investigation.

"The crew and 12 tons of fish are put under tight supervision by navy personnel with regard to their future legal process," he said.

The commander of the Western Fleet, Rear Admiral M Taufiq R has instructed his personnel to build good relationship with local fishermen and government so that any information from could immediately be followed up.

He referred to the seizure of the two Vietnamese boats as the result of the good relationship with local fishermen.

ANTARA