Hon. Bernard J. Nottage. Minister of National Security, issued a statement on Monday afternoon, February 25th, 2013 confirming that the Royal Bahamas Defence Force vessel, HMBS Nassau, apprehended a forty (40) foot Cuban Government registered vessel, registration number CN3094X, this past Saturday afternoon (24th February 2013) approximately 75 miles south of Andros off Cay Lobos in the Great Bahama Bank area with five (5) Cuban nationals on board and a large quantity of marine resources.
The Minister added that the arrest was made in accordance with the Fisheries Resources (Jurisdiction and Conservation) Act that prohibits fishing in Bahamian waters by a foreign vessel.
His statement also stated: “The Cuban vessel was escorted to the Defence Force Base at Coral Harbour where it arrived around 9:00 PM last night. The catch was inspected by an officer of the Department of Marine Resources and found to contain a large quantity of shark and a small quantity of sting ray and scale fish. An accurate count of marine resources is being conducted today. The five (5) Cuban nationals were handed over to the Royal Bahamas Police Force yesterday evening and are currently in custody at the Cable Beach Police Station where they are being processed. A Spanish translator is assisting law enforcement officials with the exercise. The Cuban Ambassador to The Bahamas was informed of the arrest and the Cuban Embassy is currently in communication with Bahamian officials regarding the matter. This is the first arrest of a Cuban vessel in Bahamian waters since the signing of the Maritime Delimitation Agreement with Cuba in October 2011 and the enactment of regulations against shark fishing in July, 2011as per the Fisheries Resources (Jurisdiction and Conservation) Act. Law enforcement officials from the Royal Bahamas Defence Force, the Royal Bahamas Police Force, the Department of Immigration and the Department of Marine Resources are collaborating in their on-going investigation into this incident.”
