Vietnamese Poachers

Their boats were intercepted by the French navy off Belep last week and escorted to Noumea.

The captains were immediately tried and imprisoned while the 30 crew would be deported to Vietnam.

The boats were found to have beche-de-mer on board as well as shark fins, which are reportedly worth about $US700 a kilogramme.

Shark finning is prohibited in New Caledonia.

Earlier this year, New Caledonia and other areas in Melanesia were targetted by dozens of Vietnamese blue boats.

Photo: AFP A Vietnamese "blue boat". 

Do Van Va, Vo Van Vi, and Nguyen Nguyen were charged under various sections of the Fisheries Management Act 2015 and Fisheries (Amendment) Regulation 2009.

The maximum penalty for their offences range from $US1,2000 to $US1.5 million or five years imprisonment.

The three captains and their crews were caught by police on 26 March of this year for taking beche-de-mer and other marine resources from the Indispensable Reefs south of Rennell Island.

Some crew members were deported from Solomon Islands after they were convicted of poaching.