Coast Guard detains two foreigners, vessels caught fishing illegally
THE Jamaica Defence Force (JDF) Coast Guard Saturday said it had seized two vessels and have held two foreigners caught fishing illegally on the Pedro Banks on Friday.
According to the Coast Guard, the Jamaican-registered fishing vessels, Ocean Power and Densom, were located by HMJS Surrey early Friday morning while on a routine patrol of the Pedro Banks and escorted to Kingston.
“Ocean Power was detained for fishing contrary to its licence. Densom was detained for fishing without a licence,” the JDF Coast Guard said in a press release.
The Marine Police, Fisheries Division and Immigration Department have since been called in to investigate the matter.
The “two foreigners”, in the meanwhile, are being processed by the Immigration Department. The Marine Police are investigating both vessels.
“This is the second recent incident of Jamaican fishing vessels fishing in contravention of the conditions of their licence, a matter which is of major concern to the JDF Coast Guard,” the JDF said.