SCGS Zoroaster makes first interception |18 May 2022

SCGS Zoroaster escorting the vessel to Port Victoria

Seychelles Coast Guard ship (SCGS) Zoroaster has made its first successful illegal, unreported and unregulated fishing interception since she was commissioned in June 2021.

On the morning of Wednesday May 11, 2022, the Seychelles Coast Guard maritime operation centre was notified by the Seychelles Fishing Authority that a local fishing vessel had reported spotting a foreign fishing boat engaging in suspected illegal fishing activity within Seychelles exclusive economic zone (EEZ), in an area south-east of Mahé.

SCGS Zoroaster was tasked to proceed to the area to investigate.

At around 4pm the same day, SCGS Zoroaster intercepted and boarded the foreign fishing boat and evidence linked to suspect illegal fishing was observed.

The suspected vessel with six fishermen on board, originating from Sri Lanka, was escorted to Port Victoria.

On Thursday May 12, SCGS Zoroaster arrived in Port Victoria with the foreign fishing vessel under escort. The boat and crew have been handed over to the police and SFA for further investigations linked to suspect illegal fishing within Seychelles’ EEZ.

SCGS Zoroaster recently returned to Seychelles after an absence of almost four months, attending Exercise MILAN 2022 in Visakhapatnam in February followed by Guarantee refit at Kolkata in April.

Press release for the Seychelles Defence Forces