The Nigerian Navy, Forward Operating Base (FOB) Formoso has handed over three fishing trawlers, and their crew members to the Federal Department of Fisheries, in Bayelsa State.
The arrested trawlers were as follows; MFVs BARNALY III and OLOKUN V was arrested on January 22, 2024, while fishing within the prohibited areas reserved for artisanal fisher men around Sangana Oilfield without operating their Automatic Identification Systems (AIS). A lady named CYNTHIA was also arrested on January 24, 2024 around Fish Town River while trawling without operating her Automatic Identification Systems.
The handing over was held at a brief ceremony at the Forward Operating Base, FORMOSO Egwema, Brass, and performed by the Commanding Officer, Capt. Murtala Aminu Rogo, represented by the Base Operation Officer FOB, Lieutenant Commander Haruna Ranga, who advised the mariners to abide by the laws of Nigerian maritime.
“These acts violated the Sea Fisheries Act of 1992. suffice to state that these maritime infractions amongst others, would not be tolerated by the Nigerian Navy, Nigerian Navy will not relent in it’s effort towards policing and enforcement of maritime laws”, he noted.
Rogo said, that the Nigerian Navy would not tolerate any act of maritime infractions in Nigerian waters and the Gulf of Guinea at large. fishing companies and agents must pay particular attention to the instructions in Form B issued to them by the FDF as license and same must be communicated and understood by the vessel crew to avoid any form of infringement on the state law.
