MercoPress. South Atlantic News Agency
Venezuela fishing vessels caught in French Guiana waters will be destroyed
Captains will face charges in court; the vessels are docked at the naval base of Larivot Two Venezuelan fishing vessels were caught illegally operating n French Guiana waters by a French Navy patrol and will be destroyed as is normal procedure in the territory, according to Cayenne media.
The vessels were intercepted “30 nautical miles off Kuru” and the catch was returned to the sea, according to a release from the Guiana Coast Guard.
The same release indicates that the two captains are under arrest and will face charges in court on Friday. The two vessels have been retained at the French base of Larivot, where they “will be dismantled and later destroyed”.
“It is the fifteenth interception of vessels illegally fishing in Guiana territorial waters since the beginning of the year, and was the sixth of July”, said the Coast Guard.
On 28 July a Brazilian vessel was caught eight kilometres from the Guiana-Brazil border and escorted to the port of Larivot.
The Brazilian captain was sent to court and sentenced to 12 months in jail by a magistrate from Cayenne.
On July 23 a coastal fishing vessel flying the French flag was boarded by armed pirates and left adrift after having robbed the outboard motor and other equipment.
Fishing vessels from neighbouring Surinam, Brazil and Venezuela regularly smuggle into the rich French Guiana fisheries despite the harsh penalties imposed by the French authorities.
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Read all commentsA lesson the FIG should learn. It would certainly spice up the Falklands news.
Aug 03rd, 2012 - 07:49 am 0What lesson is that then? Dissolve itself and have FI become an integral part of the United Kingdom with the Royal Navy Fisheries Protection Squadron taking appropriate action against those thieving in UK EEZ waters?
Aug 03rd, 2012 - 08:32 am 0FI actually does more- last time one was caught and refused to pay the heavy fine -oh and usually the catch is confiscated and they have to buy it back - we stripped the vessel, sold the saleable and then the clean empty hulk was towed out and sank.
Aug 03rd, 2012 - 10:36 am 0Am waiting for all the Arg supporters to come on here though and shout French European Colonialism surely?
Since then no more major incidents.
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