RBDF apprehends 46 Dominican poachers

RBDF apprehends 46 Dominican poachers

Forty-six Dominican fishermen were apprehended Sunday morning for poaching in Bahamian Waters, authorities said.

According to the Royal Bahamas Defence Force (RBDF), the men were on board one of three Dominican vessels in Bahamian waters yesterday.

Reports are that, intelligence led officers to the three foreign vessels in the area of Guinchos Cay.

HMBS Madeira was immediately dispatched to the area to investigate. A 70-foot steel hull Dominican Fishing Vessel ‘Ronnie’ was apprehended approximately 20 nautical miles south-east of Cay Lobos with 46 Dominican fishermen.

Further investigations resulted in the discovery of a large number of fishery products onboard. Two other Dominican Fishing Vessels that were in the vicinity fled the area into Cuban waters.

Last month, Defence Force patrol craft HMBS Durward Knowles apprehended four Dominican fishermen aboard a 50-ft Dominican fishing vessel for poaching on June 16 on the Great Bahama Bank. This arrest was the result of close collaboration with the Bahamian fishing community.

The men have since been charged.