Luanda: Eight artisanal vessels were seized Tuesday by the Maritime and Fiscal Police for carrying out fishing activity on the perimeter of oil platforms, Deputy Commissioner Mateus Rodrigues said on Wednesday.
According to Angola Press News Agency, the spokesman for the General Command of the National Police, speaking at a press conference, stated that 16 crew members from the vessels were arrested. They are accused of the crime of disobedience for exceeding a thousand meters from the perimeter of the rigs.
The vessels possess licenses that permit them to fish between four and eight nautical miles. However, by fishing near the platforms, crew members jeopardize their safety, as they carry generators, stoves, searchlights, and cook food on board, posing risks of explosions on the oil platforms.
The senior officer of the National Police revealed that the arrests were facilitated by complaints from citizens aware of the illegal fishing practices. The detained crew members will be presented to the Public Prosecutor’s Office for further legal proceedings.