26 Nov 2003

Vanuatu intercepts Taiwanese vessel suspected of illegal fishing

11:38 am on 26 November 2003

The Vanuatu patrol boat, the RSV Tukoro, has intercepted a Taiwanese ship suspected of fishing illegally off the Shepherd Islands.

The fishing vessel has been escorted into Port Vila after customs chief in Tongariki complained that an unknown vessel was fishing close to shore within the country's exclusive zone.

Our correspondent says it is to be established whether the ship is among the five Taiwanese vessels registered under a ni-Vanuatu owned company, called Sound Fishing Group.