VIETAMESE SKIPPER NAMED SUSPECT OVER ILLEGAL FISHING

Jayapura, Papua, Jan 22 (Antara) - Nguyen Trong Nhan (24), the skipper of a Vietnamese-flagged Thanh Cong boat who was arrested by marine police of Raja Ampat, West Papua, for allegedly conducting illegal fishing has now been named suspect. Papua regional police spokesman Senior Commissioner Patrige informed Antara here on Thursday that Nguyen was named a suspect after the police questioned his 12 crew members. Nguyen has been charged with violating several articles in the country's fishery law. While confiscating the boat three days ago, the police discovered 2.1 thousand shark fins, 45 dead sea turtles, five dead stingrays, 586 stingray fins, and fishing equipment such as a gill net as evidence. The boat is currently held at Waisai, the capital of Raja Ampat district. "The boat was caught while fishing illegally in Misol," Raja Ampat District Police Chief Adjunct Senior Commissioner Nelson Sagala stated on Monday. When questioned whether the boat would be sunk, Patrige said that the police was still coordinating with the prosecutor's office and the court. "It is possible that the boat will be sunk if a court ruling is already issued," he noted. The Indonesian government has decided to sink any fishing boat caught conducting fish poaching in the country's waters to end the rampant practice. Several boats have, so far, already been sunk. Reporting by Evarudijati