Coast Guard tightens all measures to decrease marine crime

Manama, Feb. 23 (BNA): The Coast Guard Command announced that it has tightened all measures to implement the law to decrease marine crime. The command said that it has drawn up a clear strategic plan to implement maritime laws and reduce crimes, including illegal fishing and unregulated fishing to enhance maritime security in cooperation with relevant entities. Coast Guard Commander, Major-General Alaa Siyadi highlighted the legal action for minor violations that include wasting Coast Guardsefforts to arrest fleeing boats. He explained that the smuggling of weapons and drugs started since 2013 and continues until now. Bahrain's marine security is changing and arms and drug smugglers are taking all opportunities to distract the Coast Guards who are combating illegal fishing, he said The new laws include deportation for every foreigner who violates Bahrain's fishing laws. Siyadi indicated that the Coast Guard has tightened maritime surveillance through coastal radars, near and far cameras, and international automatic identification devices. The Coast Guard is making sure that such devices are installed on the more than 7,000 registered boats.