Pak fishermen caught within India’s ‘notional’ IMBL by ICG, booked by Gujarat Police

DySP Dhruval Sutariya of Ranavav Division of Porbandar Police, told the Indian Express, “We registered an FIR on behalf of the state at Navibandar police station against 9 crew members.”

They were booked under sections of the Maritime Zones of India (regulation of fishing by foreign vessels) Act, 1981, read with the Territorial Waters, Continental Shelf, Exclusive Economic Zone and Other Maritime Zone Act, 1976; as well as under the Immigration and Foreigners Act, 2025.”

Asked if there was a minor among the fishermen apprehended, DySP Sutariya said, “According to the documents including permits found in their possession, all nine crew members are above 18 years of age.” They have been registered in Karachi, Pakistan.”

They will be presented at a local court in Porbandar on Saturday, seeking their remand. After the end of the remand period, they are likely to be sent to the Joint Interrogation Centre (JIC) in Bhuj, Kutch, police said. Nothing suspicious was found from the boat, said the police.

Concept of “notional” IMBL

A police official from the Coastal Security Wing of Gujarat Police said, “While Indian Territorial Waters are 12 nautical miles from the baseline decided by the Government of India, the Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ) is within 200 nautical miles of the baseline. However, when there are neighbouring countries, where this distance is not applicable, there are usually treaties in place to decide the IMBL. However, since this is not clarified with Pakistan, the term ‘notional’ IMBL is used to indicate Indian waters.”