Seven Filipino fishing boats nabbed in North Maluku

Ternate, North Maluku (ANTARA News) - Local marine officers aboard MV
Hiu Macan have nabbed seven Filipino fishing boats and detained their
crews totaling 134 men for poaching in Halmahera waters, North Maluku.

The foreign fishing boats were herded to Ternate`s Bastiong seaport
where they are now being held. They were the MV Prinkopol 28 (with a
9-man crew), MV Primkopol Kiramis 19 (24), MV Primkopol 37 (19), MV
Satria Jaya (27, MV Patani Indah (22), Patani 08 (16) and Patani 014
(19, Adam Ramang, an officer of the marine natural resources
supervisory office, said here on Thursday.

"We suspect that most of the crew members of the seven fishing boats
are Filipinos. However we are still examining them," he said.

The foreign fishing boats flew Indonesia`s red-and-white flags and used
Indonesian names. However, when being checked and questioned, the crew
members did not speak Indonesian and did not have the required
documents or permits to fish in Indonesian waters.

Adam Ramang said the case of the Filipino fishermen would be referred to a court of law soon. (*) END

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