Foreign fishing vessel intercepted in Maldivian waters

The Maldives National Defence Force (MNDF) has stated that a foreign fishing vessel has been intercepted in Maldivian waters.

MNDF said that Coast Guard soldiers intercepted the boat on suspicion of conducting illegal activities within Maldivian territory. However, MNDF has not disclosed which country the boat belongs to or how many crew members were on board.

Although the Coast Guard released a photo of the intercepted boat, they have not disclosed the specific area where it was caught or any details of how it was intercepted.

Previously, boats from neighboring countries have been detained and fined while attempting to fish in Maldivian waters. In some cases, the boats have been confiscated by the state. The Fisheries Ministry is currently preparing to auction two Sri Lankan boats that were confiscated by the state in this manner.