Navy turns in fishing trawler, 14 others for trial
The Nigerian Navy on Thursday turned over a fishing trawler, MFV Dr Marius-1, and its 14 crew members to the Federal Department of Fisheries in Bayelsa State.
According to reports, the trawler and its crew were seized on Tuesday while reportedly operating without a license in an area reserved for artisanal fishing vessels near the Middleton River.
The trawler and crew members were turned over by the Commanding Officer, Capt. Murtala Rogo, who was represented by the Executive Officer, FOB, Commander Dantani Bukar, at a brief ceremony held at the Forward Operating Base, Egwema, Brass.
Rogo said the activities of the suspects violated the Sea Fisheries Act of 1992, adding that such maritime infractions would not be tolerated by the Nigerian Navy.
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“Let me also add that the Nigerian Navy will not relent in its efforts towards the policing and enforcement of maritime laws.
“To this end, I wish to advise all mariners to be law-abiding as they engage in the Nigerian maritime domain,” he said.
Rogo stated that fishing firms and their agents must pay close attention to the instructions on Form B issued by the Federal Department of Fisheries as a license and that these instructions must be relayed and understood by the vessel crew in order to avoid any type of legal infringement.
According to him, the Nigerian Navy, led by Chief of Naval Staff Vice Admiral Emmanuel Ogalla, is resolved to keep the Nigerian maritime domain secure and safe for lawful business.
The transfer was observed to be in accordance with the provisions of the Harmonised Standard Operating Procedures on Arrest, Detention, and Prosecution of Vessels and Persons Act 2016.