Navy seizes four trawl nets

Navy seizes four trawl nets

SIBOLGA, North Sumatra: A unit from the Sibolga naval base has seized four trawlers fishing in the waters off the Mursala Island.

Twenty-two crew members of the trawlers were apprehended while 11 others escaped by diving into the sea, Antara reported.

The chief of the Sibolga Base Lt. Col. Ahmad Tariq said the patrol unit on board the Pulau Nias warship seized 19 trawl nets of all sizes.

Indonesia barred the use of trawl nets in fishing in 1980.

The four trawlers seized were KM Rezeki, KM Sumber Karya II, KM Sumber Makmur and KM Nusaangkara. The six tons of fish found on board the ships will be auctioned off and the proceeds will go into state coffers, the news agency said.

Ahmad admitted that the navy had rarely patrolled the area around the Mursala island. (emb)