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