Blue Boats

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". 

Last week, the French navy intercepted two blue boats off Belep and found that they had beche-de-mer on board.

Now television reports say shark fins, which are reportedly worth about $US 700 a kilogramme, have also been found on the vessels.

Shark finning is prohibited in New Caledonia.

The French High Commission says the boats and their 30 crew are being towed to Noumea.

Earlier this year there were multiple arrests in New Caledonia where French naval surveillance spotted dozens of boats in operation.

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;

Speaking at an event for World Tuna Day at the Pacific Islands Forum Fisheries Agency in Honiara, John Maneniaru said he “hated blue boats” but there was only so much he could do.
 
He said all authorities needed to work together to stop them.
 
“As you are all aware, we are dealing with the Blue Boats, we have three, and there are more in the ocean, and in our area, I know,” Maneniaru said.