Authority fines vessel K3.6mil for illegal fishing

The National Main Stories

THE National Fisheries Authority (NFA) has detained and fined a Panama-flagged vessel in Rabaul when it was found with an expired “authorisation to fish” invalidating its PNG licence to receive fish from licensed fishing boats in PNG waters.
The fish carrier vessel was fined K3.6 million after being found to have broken several laws under the PNG Fisheries Management Act (1998) in March.
The vessel identified as FFV Kai De is Korean-owned but with Panama, South America flag.
According to reports received by The National, the vessel when transiting through PNG waters on March 15, displayed a false PNG licence number of PNG-808 on the wheelhouse port and starboard side.
When NFA officials inquired about the matter on March 20, the vessel’s captain Yu Lihe attempted to bribe the fishery officer with US$400 (K1,379).
The vessel was charged with engaging in fishing-related activities with an invalid licence; inducement of a fisheries officer during the performance of his duties; and, falsifying markings of a PNG licence number when navigating PNG waters.
The charges were served through penalty notices totalling K3.6 million to the vessel’s company Sein Shipping Ltd registered in South Korea. The charges were determined as such engaged in fishing activities with an invalid licence K2 million, inducement of a fishery officer K800,000 and falsifying markings K800,000 bringing to total K3.6 million. The vessel was detained in March and released in July after investigation was concluded and penalty notices fine amount of K3.6 million was fully paid.

9 comments

  • The Fisheries Officer deserves a single payment bonus for not accepting a bribe and for doing their work with diligence and integrity.

    • Congratulation to the NFA Officers for a job well done.
      The vessel was picked up on the FFA Regional Surveillance Picture when the vessel was approaching PNG EEZ and NFA officers were informed when it entered Rabaul port.
      Collaboration and cooperation through regional solidarity at its best.

  • this ship was found once , but was illegally doing that on many occassions. paying 3milion kina is just a peice of cake from millions gained illegally. good work fisheries officers. lookput for more to come.

  • Confiscate the vessel and it’s contents too if the value is more then K3 million. Imprison the crew for 5 years unless they pay US$ 1million fine. Better to auction and trace their owners to their country of origin. Have them blacklisted internationally for undermining efforts to curtail illegal and unreported fishing . More work needs to be done on surveillance investments to pay dividends for looses to poaching

  • Congratulations to the NFA officers who refused to accept bribery. This is a good news that certain honest PNG government officers has had enough of corruption. I feel proud of these officers and wish everyone of us take this same bold stand. Say NO to corruption.

  • Thank you NFA officers, for a very hones job, and this a very good example to all other PNGuinean departments ministers to follow suit. Nogat secret dealings under the tables.

Comments are closed.