By SHEILA LASIBORI
EIGHTEEN crewmen from three Indonesian fishing boats have been charged with fishing in PNG waters without valid licences.
The National Fisheries Authority (NFA) officers yesterday afternoon charged the men under Section 58 (1) (h) of the Fisheries Management Act, following their detention on Monday afternoon.
NFA’s senior enforcement officer Maring Kataka confirmed that the men were charged yesterday afternoon and their court documents for them would be prepared and filed today before the men make their appearances in court.
The crewmen aboard Cahaya Purnama were apprehended on March 19 near Jarai village while those from Kurnia and Tira Indah 02 were apprehended near Dogleg area on March 18.
They were escorted into Port Moresby last Saturday. They were taken to the Boroko Police Station on Monday afternoon and charged yesterday.
The 18 men are part of a total of 33 Indonesians on board five boats alleged to have been fishing.
According to NFA, they were after sharks for their fins, near Daru when they were apprehended between March 9 and 19 by NFA officers and police during a NFA-led surveillance operation that started on March 6 along the PNG/Indonesian border in Western province.
The Indonesians are believed to be from Sulawesi and Kandari respectively but residents at the fishing town of Merauke.
Mr Kataka said after the charges were laid, the men were informed of their charges and that an interpreter would be available for them when court proceedings start.

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