Vietnamese Blue boat captains fined US$1.4 million

The High Court in Solomon Islands has ordered the three Vietnamese captains of the blue boats to pay a hefty fine of $11.05million (US$1.4 million) or face imprisonment.

Chief Justice Sir Albert Palmer imposed the fine in default of four years imprisonment to Captains Do Van Va, Vo Van Vi and Nguyen Nguyen last Friday.

The court said if the captains failed to pay the fines within 30 days they will serve four years in prison.

Solomon Star reports a two year imprisonment term was also imposed to run concurrently with the in default sentence.

The time the three captains spent in custody was also taken into account.

This fine is for charges of;

- illegal entry into fisheries water without an appropriate entry permit approved by the Ministry of Fisheries and Marine Resources.

-prohibition of catching, selling of beche-de-mer,

- permitting fishing gears on board fishing vessel in the fisheries waters,

- and engaging in activity relating to fish processing for the purpose of export without a valid license.

The captains pleaded guilty to these charges early last month.

Sir Albert told court that he is satisfied that the overall sentence of imprisonment is more than adequate to reflect the seriousness of the offences committed.

“The message must be made plain and clear that the courts of this country will not tolerate this type of offending as mandated by the laws of the land,” Sir Albert said.

Sir Albert also directed that the three Vietnamese “Blue Boats” seized to be forfeited to the Solomon Islands Government.

He said unless further uses is required of them, given any reports on their sanitary and sea worthiness condition, the vessels are to be destroyed 14 days thereafter or before, if circumstances require.

“The manner and way these offences have been committed, referred to as illegal, unreported and unregulated (“IUU”) offences by you is a new phenomenon to the region and is causing much concern, in terms of the theft of its valuable sea resources and wealth,” Sir Albert told the three accused.

“This is relatively new way of intruding into the territorial seas and coastal waters by relatively small foreign vessels to fish for inshore species, with a focus on high value product in the Asian market including beche-de-mer, giant clam and shark fin.

“The selfishness and greed for money and quick riches at the expenses of a country’s wealth and resources cannot be tolerated by this country.

“This is the first time these blue boats have been apprehended in Solomon Islands but they have also been apprehended and sighted in Palau, FSM, PNG, Australia and Vanuatu.

“It is clear you took calculated risks to enter into the exclusive economic zone of Solomon Islands waters on the view that the Pacific is a ‘soft target’.

“I can assure you and everyone else thinking of coming into our waters that if caught you will be appropriately dealt with under our laws,” Sir Albert warned.

The three accused were charged under various sections of the Fisheries Management Act 2015 and Fisheries (Amendment) Regulation 2009.

The maximum penalty for these offences ranges from $100,000 to $12 million (US$12,000 - US$1.5 million) fines or five years imprisonment.

The 40 crews and three captains of the three wooden blue boats have been caught by police on 26 March this year at the Indispensable Reef, 50 Kilometres south of Rennell Island, Renbel Province.

The 40 crews after paying their fines for illegal staying in the country have already returned to Vietnam.

A total of US$4,300 fine imposed on them was paid to the State.

Public Solicitor Douglas Hou represented the accused while Public Prosecutor Andrew Kelesi stood on behalf of the Crown.

     

Photo by Tuna Pacific