Joint Anti-illegal Fishing Operation
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In order to combat illegal fishing and to conserve the marine resources within Hong Kong waters, including marine parks, the Hong Kong Police, Agriculture, Fisheries and Conservation Department (AFCD) and the Gongdong Provincial Oceanic and Fishery Administration (GDOFA) conducted a joint operation. The operation started at around 6am yesterday morning (April 20) and ended at around 5am this morning (April 21).

Officers from Marine Police and AFCD took enforcement actions within Hong Kong waters while GDOFA took parallel enforcement actions in the Mainland waters.

To facilitate the operation, Marine Police and AFCD deployed 24 police launches and 11 vessels respectively while GDOFA deployed 16 vessels. During the operation, officers from Marine Police and AFCD intercepted 185 fishing vessels in which 12 mainland vessels were refused to enter Hong Kong waters. Seven men from the mainland, aged between 36 and 50, were arrested for illegal immigration. The GDOFA also intercepted 137 vessels in the Mainland waters in which eight vessels were found to have violated the Mainland regulations.

The Police believed that the joint operation could successfully combat illegal fishing and conserve the marine resources. Similar joint operations would be conducted from time to time in the future.

Police Report No. 11

Ends/Tuesday, April 21, 2009