CHUMPHON/SURAT THANI: Twenty-one crewmembers of two Vietnamese fishing trawlers have been arrested for fishing illegally in the Thai waters off Surat Thani province.
A combined team of officials from Chumphon fisheries prevention and suppression unit and a special task force rushed to the Thai waters between Koh Phangan and Koh Tao in Koh Phangan district of Surat Thani late Friday after being alerted. They found the two Vietnamese trawlers fishing illegally there.
Twenty-one crew members, all Vietnamese nationals aged 19-40, were arrested and the trawlers loaded with fish and other marine animals, seized.
The crewmen and the vessels were taken to Chumphon’s fisheries prevention and suppression unit’s office in tambon Pak Nam of Muang district.
They were later handed over to police at Pak Nam station for legal action.
