Illegal fishing: Trawler and its cargo seized

Trawler has been the subject of attention of dockers of the port of Douala, on October 14, 2015, at noon.

On the platform, Guo Ji 832, chartered by a foreign company with a local relay arrived under escort by the navy who arrested the day before off the Atlantic coast in the South West Region.

"Our task, summarized Captain Abougou Abouma, commander of naval surface forces, is to board the ship caught in the act before putting it available to the other competent authorities for violation of fishing laws."

In fact, the tens of tons that should contain the holds, the departmental authorities of Livestock, Fisheries, and Animal Industries, have identified a little more than Customs.

The company-owner will have to respond to the presence of the boat in waters closed to fishing, and the occurrence of an area within three nautical miles (5.6 km) from the authorized line. The on-site inspection that holds the vessel was also found to contain a "significant quantities of shrimp and young fish."

But the license was limited to the angler fish. And adult size, it may be added, as the summary report of the offenses charged in the vessel and the crew offender also includes the use of non-conforming nets. The mesh size of such prohibited material is 40 mm instead of 70 mm required.

Hence, they catch everything and do not leave to nature, the ability to regenerate. Customs charge a little less qualified offender with double smuggling, the ship not being paid tariffs as means of transport like the nets used and, therefore, imported contrary to law.

The trawler which remains in the custody of the navy is indeed the subject of a partnership. Eugene Noah, a representative of the owner, ensures that as a young company, the operator of Guo Ji 832 called for a moratorium for the size of the nets. Moreover, its presence near the prohibited area is explained by the medical evacuation of a sailor.

Pending the result of the process that will include sanctions against the fishing company, fines, destruction of nets and the auction of the fishery would have been without the miraculous intervention of the army.