Another Taiwanese vessel seized for poaching yellowfin tuna

The vessel was apprehended after warning shots were fired from GCS Varuna and a helicopter escorting the patrol vessel. The Taiwanese master was trying to speed the special fishing craft out of the EEZ waters.

Coast Guard officials have stated that they are alarmed with the intrusion of vessels in Indian water. Apart from the poaching charges, officials are also probing into the security breach.

The arrested vessel had a compliment of 16 crew members, which included 7 Chinese, 3 Sri Lankans, 3 Filipinos, 2 Indonesians and a Taiwanese.

This is the second major seizure in the last 20 days. Earlier, The F V Ming Tay No 76, with Taiwanese flag, was apprehended north of Lakshadweep on March 30 with 53 tonne of rare yellowfin tuna in the ship’s refrigerated holds.

The yellowfin tuna (Thunnus albacora marcopterus) species is found in the Pacific and swim towards the Indian Ocean. Small shoals usually migrate in the northerly direction across the Maldives and Lakshadweep Archipelago.

Yellowfin tuna are economically important because of their size and food value. Some of the fish measure around nine feet and weigh more than 400 pounds.