A Venezuelan vessel, found fishing illegally in the North West Region, was yesterday intercepted by a Coast Guard patrol.
The 40-foot wooden vessel, which was found with a catch of 3,000 pounds of mixed fish and 2,000 pounds of salted fish in its hold, was intercepted yesterday at about 2 pm, a Guyana Defence Force press release reported.
The patrol, which comprised two recently acquired motor lifeboats, the Tirapuku and the Hymara, intercepted the vessel with its nets down fishing approximately 55 miles east of Guyana's western median line. Members of the patrol boarded the vessel and carried out a search which uncovered the fish.
The Captain and a five-member crew, along with the vessel are being escorted to Port Georgetown where they were expected to arrive this morning, the release said.
At least two other Venezuelan fishing vessels have been intercepted by the GDF Coast Guard for illegally fishing in Guyana's waters in recent months. The vessels, the Maria Giovanna II and the Marco Polo were eventually released after the captains of both vessels pleaded guilty to charges of illegally fishing in Guyana's waters. The fish, in excess of 27,000 pounds was confiscated by the State.