Foreign ships operating in Bengkulu

Foreign ships operating in Bengkulu

BENGKULU, Bengkulu: Six Thai fishing vessels have been
operating in Mukuo-Muko Utara waters off North Bengkulu regency.

Reports say that the Thai fishermen were choosy about the fish
they caught.

"They catch only expensive fish. They just dump the dead fish
they don't want," a local fisherman, Syaiful, said.

Local fishermen allege that the Thai ships have been operating
in the area for a long time but that it was only in October that
they reported the matter to the district chief executive's
office.

Mukuo-Muko Utara district chief executive Ferizal Syamsul said
he had sent a letter to the regent over the Thai fishermen's
presence, copies of which had also been sent to the Bengkulu
governor, Bengkulu Naval Base commander and the Marine and
Fisheries Office.

Ferizal did not say when the letters were sent, or if any of
the officials concerned had responded. --Antara