Two Sri Lankan fishing vessels have been fined for illegally fishing in the Maldivian waters.

The Ministry of Fisheries, Agriculture, and Marine Resources noted that these two fishing vessels were intercepted by Maldives National Defence Force (MNDF) on August 13th.

The Ministry further revealed that one of those boats was fined a total of MVR 600,000. This included an MVR 500,000 fine for fishing illegally in the Maldivian waters without prior permission and MVR 100,000 for entering the Maldivian waters without permission. The second vessel was fined MVR 100,000 for entering the Maldivian waters without permission.

As per the regulation, the Ministry had provided time for the vessel owners to respond before the fine.

Since both the vessels had paid off the fines, they have been permitted to depart the country.

Several foreign vessels have been fined before under the Fisheries Act of the Maldives. Works are underway by the state to take over four vessels that had failed to pay the fines.