The French Navy patrol boat La Confiance successfully intercepted and seized a vessel that was engaged in illegal fishing in the waters of France's exclusive economic zone (EEZ) off the Caribbean island country of Saint Barths on Wednesday, January 29.
A subsequent flag verification check revealed that the vessel's crew had neither a certificate of registration nor a fishing licence.
The navy boarding team that seized the vessel also found that the illegal catch of 72 kilograms of fish had included white tip sharks, which are designated as critically endangered on the IUCN Red List and are therefore banned.
The seized fishing vessel and its crew have since been brought to the Port of Marigot in Saint Martin to be taken into the custody of the local Maritime Directorate.
