The Jamaica Defence Force (JDF) Coast Guard interdicted 59 Dominican fishermen, accusing these of illegal fishing on Wednesday, 12 April 2017. The JDF reported intercepting the “Alma Rosa” carrying the 59 men from the Dominican Republic on board and more 7,675 pounds of fish in storage. The men were detained and the vessel seized and towed to the JDF Coast Guard Base at Cagway in Port Royal.
The JDF said that none of the men were in possession of a required fishing license and, as a result, the individuals were detained and their boat seized. The fishermen were escorted back to the Coast Guard base in Jamaica where they were formally arrested and processed.
The JDF noted that this week’s interdiction brings to 114, the number of illegal fishermen caught in Jamaican waters in just over a week. On Sunday, March 26, 32 fishermen from the Dominican Republic were reportedly caught about 120 miles south of Jamaica and close to the Pedro Cays.
Jarrett also pointed to the presence of the newly acquired JDF boats as a significant factor in the Force’s ability to track and interdict illegal fishermen.
The Dominican fishermen need to pay fines of US$125,000 each for fishing without a license, and US$2.5 million for the captain, and US$750,000 for each of the second in command or face time in jail.
Read more:
Listin Diario
Jamaica Observer
17 April 2017
