Four Dominican fishermen were charged before the courts on Friday December 28, 2018 in New Providence after being apprehended for fisheries violations by a Royal Bahamas Defence Force patrol craft in waters south of Great Inagua.

In Friday’s hearing, Oneil Garcia, Ediberto Awduzar, Franklyn Carbera, and Jose Gomez all appeared before Magistrate McKinney in Court#1, and were charged with Illegal Foreign Fishing within the Exclusive Fishery Zone.

All of the Dominicans pleaded guilty and were subsequently convicted and fined $10,000 each or 6 months in jail.

A US Coast Guard Operations Turks and Caicos (OPBAT) helicopter spotted a suspicious vessel south of Inagua on 22nd December 2018.  The Defence Force was informed and P-128, under the command of Petty Officer Edison Rolle, subsequently apprehended the 20-foot vessel with four Dominicans on board.

During the month of December alone, a total of 18 Dominican fishermen have been apprehended for fisheries violations in Bahamian waters. For the year 2018, the Royal Bahamas Defence Force apprehended a total of 190 Dominican poachers along with and 4 Dominican fishing vessels and 5 small go-fast type boats with over 100,000 pounds of fisheries products.

The Royal Bahamas Defence Force continues to protect the territorial integrity of The Bahamas.

RBDF Photo shows: Dominican Fishermen heading to the courts to be charged

 (RBDF Photos by Marine Seaman Wellington Ramsey)

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