MAPUTO, Dec. 21 (Xinhua) -- Mozambican authorities on Friday announced the seizure of a vessel from the Republic of Seychelles for alleged illegal fishing in northern Mozambique.
Leonid Chimarizene, national director of operations at the Ministry of Sea, Inland Waters and Fisheries, told to reporters in Maputo said that the commander of the vessel was fined around 66,000 U.S. dollars and banned from fishing in Mozambican waters for 35 months.
"The vessel's commander acknowledged the exercise of fishing in Mozambique without a license, and said he was unaware of the legal statutes that regulate fishing in Mozambique," said the director.
During the chase, fishermen dumped huge quantities of fish including tuna and other marine species into the sea, Chimarizene said, adding that there were nine Seychellois nationals, most of whom did not have identification documents.
