On Sunday, the maritime patrol aircraft Dash-8 of the Dutch Caribbean Coast Guard operating in the St. Maarten area spotted a Venezuelan fishing vessel near Saba. International law however prevents fishing in this protected maritime nature reserve called the Saba Bank.
The Dash-8 identified several fishing lines in the water however and numerous sharks already caught lying on deck. The Coast Guard operations centre sent the patrol ship HNLMS Friesland to intercept. The Friesland carrying an embarked Coast Guard boarding team caught up with the fishing vessel at sea and boarded the fisherman using its interceptor ‘FRISC’. The boarding team ascertained the fisherman did not have the required permits and contacted the Public Prosecutor for Bonaire, Saba and St. Eustatius for deliberation. The Prosecutor decided to fine the Venezuelan fisherman for 1500 USD and ordered the Coast Guard to confiscate the fishing lines and catch.
The Dutch Caribbean Coast Guard is responsible for all maritime law enforcement in the Dutch Caribbean. The Coast Guard can be reached 24/7 on the toll free number 913.