The Ministry of Fisheries and Marine Resources, in collaboration with the Namibian Navy, has apprehended an Angolan vessel over alleged illegal fishing activities in Namibian waters.
National police spokesperson deputy commissioner Kauna Shikwambi says the vessel, identified as the Angolan-flagged MFV Lucimar, was intercepted by the Nathaniel Maxuilili patrol vessel on 19 December.
The vessel was allegedly found fishing approximately 24km within Namibian territorial waters near the Angolan-Namibian border without the necessary permission.
The Nathaniel Maxuilili Patrol vessel escorted the Angolan vessel to the Walvis Bay port, where it was subsequently docked.
“Upon inspection by fisheries inspectors it was found that the vessel does not have a licence or permit to harvest marine resources in Namibian territorial waters, and it has contravened other fisheries-related acts,” Shikwambi says.
The vessel carried 19 crew members, comprising 15 Angolan nationals, two Senegalese nationals, one South African and one Portuguese national.
Shikwambi says the vessel’s captain, Rodrigues Jose, chief engineer Charl le Corre, and Angolan crew member Mateus Ambrosio were arrested and charged.
They appeared in the Walvis Bay Magistrate’s Court on 29 December.
The court denied them bail, and the three suspects were remanded in custody.
The case has been postponed to 8 February for further investigation.
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