Navy arrests 2 ships, crew for illegal fishing

The Nigerian Navy has arrested two fishing trawlers and their crew for their alleged involvement in illegal fishing on Nigeria’s territorial waters.

The fishing trawlers identified as TAURARO and STARSHRIMPER 29 were arrested around Badagry waters by officers attached to the Western Naval Command of the Nigerian Navy.

The Flag Officer Commanding (FOC) Western Naval Command, Rear Admiral Mustapha Hassan, said both vessels were arrested on Tuesday by officers participating in exercise EJA EXPRESSION which was recently flagged off in the Lagos area.

Admiral Hassan specifically said Exercise EJA EXPRESSION is currently yielding positive results, insisting that the presence of NN ships at sea has continued to deter intending perpetrators and led to the arrest of suspected maritime offenders.

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Speaking on the arrested vessels, Admiral Hassan said the Nigerian Navy Ship EKULU at about 4 am on Tuesday, while on patrol along the Badagry axis noticed the suspicious movement of two fishing trawlers.

“The vessels were subsequently boarded and confirmed to have large quantities of fish onboard and during interrogation discovered, that despite their license to shrimp only, the crew still went on to embark on illegal fishing.