The government has levied fines against a number of vessels which fished in Maldives’ territorial waters.
Fisheries Ministry stated that the Coastguard had on September 18 intercepted five fishing vessels from Sri Lanka who had illegally entered Maldives’ Special Economic Zone and allegedly conducted illegal fishing activities.
The Ministry said that the vessels have now been allowed to return after the investigations were completed and the fines paid.
According to the Ministry, 20 fishing vessels have been intercepted and fined for illegally fishing in Maldives’ Special Economic Zones after the Fisheries Act came into effect in 2019.