Seven Vietnamese fishermen have been fined five months after they were caught poaching in Philippine waters. On August 17, 2018, the seven fishermen were arrested on Dalupiri Island in the Calayan province by the Philippine Coast Guard, Philippine News Agency reported.
Reports indicated that the crew turned off their lights and cut their fishing lines when the patrol team approached them.
Their vessel was found with squid bait and 30 pieces of blue marlin and yellowfin tuna.
On January 7, the crew was ordered to pay a fine of 300,000 pesos (US$5,746). Their vessel was also confiscated by the Philippine government. According to regional director of the Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources (BFAR) Nelson Bien, the ship will be used for research purposes.
Boat captain Nguyen Duc Team and his crew were now waiting to be cleared by other government agencies before they could return to Vietnam.