The Civil Court ruled that a foreign vessel caught fishing in the Maldives’ territorial waters will be confiscated by the State, and its owner will have to pay MVR 400,000 in fines.
In April 2018, a Sri Lankan fishing boat was seized while operating illegally in the Maldives. The prosecution filed a petition in court seeking to fine the owner of the vessel and to confiscate the vessel itself.
Last week, the Civil Court ruled that the vessel and its equipment should be confiscated and the owner was informed to pay the fine within seven days.
According to the Fisheries Act, the State has the power to seize fishing vessels in the country’s territory that are in violation of the Act.
Illegal fishing vessels have previously been captured in the past; however, such vessels are rarely taken over by the State.
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