Chinese trawler crew to be charged
The Chinese crew of a fishing trawler captured by the Department of Fisheries for suspected illegal fishing in SA waters will be charged.
THE Department of Fisheries has confirmed that the crew of a Chinese fishing trawler, ‘Lu Huang Yuan Yu 186’ which was captured after it was suspected that it was illegally fishing in South African waters, will be charged.
The vessel was one of nine vessels suspected of illegal fishing when they were spotted in Durban, Port St Johns and Cape Recife, last week.
The department sent a patrol boat after the vessels, but was only able to capture one when the other vessels dispersed in all directions after being instructed to follow the patrol vessel to port.
A patrol boat was dispatched to round them up and escort them to Saldanha Bay, but eight vessels took off, prompting the Navy to be sent after them.
However, one vessel was captured and inspected by police and the Department of Home Affairs and SARS in Cape Town harbour on Sunday. According to reports no fish was found on board but fishing equipment was evident and SARS also fined the crew for a stash of tobacco and cigarettes found on board. Authorities also found dogs on board which they said were being kept in inhumane conditions.
The crew members will be charged under the Marine Living Resources Act for entering the South African Exclusive Economic Zone without permit. They will also be charged for not following instructions from compliance officers and for switching off their lights and tracking devices.
Reports indicate the crew claimed to be on their way to the Congo where they say they have permission to fish.
The department confirmed that the other eight vessels which escaped belonged to the same company.
