Nigerian Navy Hands Over Seized-Illegal-Shrimping To Federal Department (Full Details)

The Nigerian Navy Forward Operating Base, Escravos, located in Warri Southwest council area of Delta state, has transferred a detained merchant fishing vessel, identified as DR MARIUS 1, to the Federal Department of Fisheries (FDF)….CONTINUE READING

The vessel was apprehended for allegedly engaging in illegal shrimping within the non-trawling zone of Nigeria’s waters. The interception resulted in the discovery of one Ghanaian with an expired passport and 13 Nigerian crew members onboard.

In a statement released in Warri, the Navy clarified that the action aligns with the Chief of Naval Staff’s Strategic End State (CNS-SD 2023 – 6) and command philosophy focused on establishing a secure maritime environment in Nigeria and the Gulf of Guinea. The vessel was intercepted at the Pennington Oil Terminal position Latitude 04026.399’N Longitude 005037.970’E.

According to the statement signed by Base Commander Captain O. A. Aliu, the Fishing Vessel DR MARIUS 1, owned by Karflex Fisheries Limited, violated Nigerian Maritime and Fishery Laws by engaging in shrimping within a 5nm non-trawling zone without a Turtle Excluder Device. The Ghanaian onboard had an expired International Passport, contravening the Nigerian Immigration Act.

The Navy emphasized the commitment to collaboration with the FDF to curb unlawful exploitation of Nigeria’s fishery resources. The arrest and handover serve as a deterrent to other fishing vessels involved in such infractions within Nigerian waters.