Owner of the Maldivian fishing vessel that was caught trespassing in Indian waters has been fined MVR 50,000.

While Indian authorities freed the 10 crewmen onboard at the time they were caught, all Maldivian vessels are banned from fishing outside of the economic zone under the fishing license accredited by the Ministry of Fisheries and Agriculture.

While the Maldivian fishing vessel was detained by the Indian Coastguard on 5 October, Indian authorities decided to release it on 7 October.

“Ambaree” was caught three miles outside of Minicoy island and Ministry of Foreign Affairs soon released a statement stressing that trespassing in another country’s territorial waters is against the laws and urged everyone to pay special heed to this.

While another Maldivian fishing vessel was caught in India’s territorial waters in February as well, authorities had released the crewmen and vessel without taking any action, in respect of the “friendly relations” between both countries.

Fisheries Ministry earlier highlighted that these actions could possibly lead to vessel being blacklisted by the Indian Ocean Tuna Commission (IOTC), which a Maldivian vessel has never made.