Maldives seizes Sri Lankan boat over illegal fishing, fines owner MVR 2.6mn

A Sri Lankan boat caught fishing illegally in the Maldivian waters last year has been seized by the state and fined MVR 2.6 million.

The boat was caught in the fishing in the Maldives Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ) by the Coast Guard last year.

The state filed a lawsuit over the incident with the Civil Court, which delivered its verdict on Wednesday.

Judge Ahmed Abdul Matheen found in favor of the state, and ordering for the boat to be confiscated, and for the owner to pay a fine of MVR 2.6 million.

The judgement was delivered in absentia, after the boat’s owner failed to respond to the lawsuit or attend the court.