Foreign Fishing Vessel Seized for Trespassing in Maldivian Waters
Photo: MNDF
The Maldives National Defence Force (MNDF) has seized a foreign fishing vessel found trespassing within the Maldives’ Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ).
ދިވެހިރާއްޖޭގެ ޚާއްޞަ އިޤުތިޞާދީ ސަރަހައްދުގައި ހަރަކާތްތެރިވަމުންދިޔަ ބޭރު ޤައުމެއްގެ މަސްބޯޓެއް، އެމްއެންޑީއެފް ކޯސްޓްގާޑްގެ ބެލުމުގެ ދަށަށް ގެނެސްފި. 5 މީހުން ތިބި މި އުޅަނދު މާލޭ ބަނދަރަށް ގެނައުމުގެ މަސައްކަތް ދަނީ ކުރަމުން
— Maldives National Defence Force (@MNDF_Official) July 10, 2025advertisement
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According to the MNDF, the Coast Guard intercepted the vessel with five crew members on board. The vessel is currently being escorted to Malé for further investigation.
This incident follows a series of similar breaches reported in recent months. In January, the Coast Guard intercepted another foreign fishing vessel that was found operating in violation of the Maldives Fisheries Act. A month earlier, on 26 December 2024, a separate illegal fishing operation was detected and halted. That vessel was located by a drone deployed by the MNDF Air Corps during an EEZ surveillance operation.
Also in December, a group of foreigners operating a dinghy illegally within Maldivian territory were apprehended and handed over to the Maldives Police Service.
Authorities continue to step up surveillance and enforcement efforts to protect the country’s maritime resources and maintain the security of its territorial waters.
