Navy hand over fishing trawler, 12 crew members to regulatory agency

In continuation of their onslaught on illegal fishing on Nigeria territory waters, the Nigerian Navy Forward Operating Base (FOB) FORMOSO, have handed over a Motor Fishing Trawler (MFT) OLOKUN XIV and 12 of its crew members to the Federal Department of Fisheries (FDF) in Bayelsa.

At the ceremony, the Commanding Officer FOB FORMOSO, Capt. Murtala Aminu Rogo, stated that MFT OLOKUN XIV was arrested on April 6, around Madu Oil Field Offshore trawling with an inoperative Automatic Identification System (AIS), which violates the maritime law and would not be tolerated by the Nigerian Navy (NN).

The Commanding Officer, who was represented by the Executive Officer, Commander M.A Gada, said the Nigerian Navy will not relent in effort towards policing and enforcement of all maritime laws to get rid of any form of crime in the Nigerian maritime domain.

He said: “I wish to advise all mariners to be law abiding as they engage the Nigerian maritime domain.

“Pertinently, the Federal Department of Fisheries must through the Nigerian Trawler Operators Association (NTOA) warn all fishing trawlers to desist from using fishing trawlers to aid illegalities at the sea.”

While handing over MFT, he urged the FDF that the Base is expecting an official notification of the outcome of the investigation at the appropriate time.

The Commanding Officer said that the Navy under the leadership of the Chief of Naval Staff, Vice Admiral Emmanuel Ikechukwu Ogalla are determined to ensure that the Nigerian maritime domain remains secured and safe for all legitimate businesses to thrive.