RI arrests 17 Thai fishermen

RI arrests 17 Thai fishermen

INDONESIA: Indonesian authorities have arrested 17 Thai
fishermen and seized their five boats in the latest operation
targeting illegal fishing in the vast archipelago nation, a navy
officer said on Saturday.

The boats were seized last Saturday for catching large hauls
of fish without proper licenses in the eastern province of
Maluku, said Ronald, an officer from the navy's eastern fleet
headquarters.

He said 17 crew members were also arrested. They faced up to
six years in jail and fines of Rp 20 billion (US$2 million) if
convicted, he said.

Illegal fishing is estimated to cost Indonesia two billion
dollars in annual losses.

Authorities have increased operations against poachers in
several parts of the archipelago, sinking a number of boats in
recent years after evacuating and detaining their crews. -- AFP