Four crew members from Vietnamese blue boats have been deported from Solomon Islands after they were convicted of poaching.
Vietnamese blue boats seized on Sunday in Solomon Islands Rennell and Bellona province, for allegedly fishing illegally off of Indispensable Reef, dock at the Patrol Boat Base in Honiara on Wednesday 29-03-2017. Photo: RNZI/Supplied by Frank Aote’e
They are the first deportations of 40 fishermen from three boats who were arrested in March for taking beche-de-mer and other marine resources from the Indispensable Reefs south of Rennell Island.
Immigration Officer Chris Akosawa told the Solomon Star the remaining crew will be flown home sometime next week depending on airline bookings.
Mr Akosawa says detaining the men at Rove Police club has been a financial burden on the government.
Each crew member was fined $US100 which was paid by family members and the Vietnamese government.
The three captains, Do Van Va, Vo Van Vi, and Nguyen Nguyen will remain in the Solomons pending a High Court case.
They face charges including illegal entry into a Solomon's fishery and processing fish for export without a licence.
Fines for their offences range from $US1,2000 to $US1.5 million.
