Navy intercepts trawler, 13 crew members in Bayelsa

Soldiers of Forward Operating Base (FOB), Egwema, of the Nigerian Navy (NN) have arrested a fishing trawler, MFV Lady Jessica ll, and 13 crew members for violating Nigeria’ Sea Act in Brass LGA of Bayelsa State and handed them over to the Federal Department of Fisheries (FDF).

Speaking during the handing over at the Forward Operating Base over the weekend, the Commanding Officer (CO), Capt Murtala Aminu Rogo, said the trawler was arrested within an area reserved for artisanal fishing boats without an Automatic Identification System (AIS).

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He said: “The Nigerian Navy will not relent in its effort towards policing and enforcement of maritime laws. To this end, I wish to advise all mariners to be law abiding as they engage the Nigerian maritime domain. “Pertinently, fishing companies and agents must pay particular attention to the instructions in Form B issued to them by the Federal Department of Fisheries as licence, and the same must be communicated and understood by the vessels’ crews to avoid any form of infringement on the state law therein.”