Ministry of Fisheries, Marine Resources and Agriculture has imposed a fine on the owner of the Maldivian fishing vessel caught in Indian territorial waters.
The fishing vessel was caught by Indian security forces on October 5, about 3 miles off Minicoy, the closest Indian territory to Maldives. The Government of India released the fishing vessel and its crew on October 7.
However, for violating The Fisheries Law of Maldives, the fisheries ministry has imposed a USD 3,247 fine on the owner of the vessel. The fine was imposed under Article 73 of The Fisheries Law of Maldives. This is the first time a fine was imposed following the implementation of the latest amendments to The Fisheries Law of Maldives,
The fisheries ministry had called on all Maldivian fishing vessels to be more cautious and to operate in the Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ) as fishing outside the Maldivian waters is against the law. International laws and treaties mandate Maldives to take measures against illegal fisheries.
Hence, Maldivian vessels fishing in the waters of other neighbouring countries might negatively impact the Maldivian fishing sector, according to the ministry. Such actions might result in the fisheries oversight body of the Indian Ocean, Indian Ocean Tuna Commission (IOTC), from blacklisting Maldives. The ministry also stated it shall take necessary actions against vessels fishing in international waters.
International law of the seas grants coastal states sovereign jurisdictions on marine resources in its adjacent section of the continental shelf taken to be a band extending 200 miles from the shore. While Maldives gets 200 miles from the east and the west, the zone between Maldives and Sri Lanka have been split in half as the waters do not allow a clear 200 miles for each nation. The ministry estimates the EEZ to stretch to 35 miles to the north of the country.
Hence, the fisheries ministry urges all fishing vessels to be extra cautious in operating in international waters between Maldives and India.