Pakistan seizes 8 Indian fishing boats off Gujarat coast

The Pakistan Maritime Security Agency (PMSA) has seized eight Indian fishing boats off the coast of Gujarat and apprehended the fishermen on board, an official of the National Fishworkers' Forum (NFF) said on Saturday.

While one of the seized boats had sailed from Okha, a coastal town in Devbhoomi Dwarka district, seven were from Porbandar, NFF secretary Manish Lodhari said.

"We have been told by fishermen in the Arabian Sea that PMSA has seized eight fishing boats from near International Maritime Border Line (IMBL) this morning," Lodhari, who is also the president of Porbandar Fishermen Boat Association, said.

"While we are yet to know about the exact number of fishermen who have been caught, we estimate that the boats may have been carrying an estimated 40 members who might have been arrested," he said.

The fishermen along with their boats were nabbed near the IMBL off Jakhau coast, Lodhari said, adding, he is yet to hear from Pakistani agencies about the exact number of fishermen captured.

Generally, the PMSA captures Indian fishermen operating off Gujarat coast claiming that arrested Indian fishermen have violated international maritime laws by entering into Pakistani territory in the Arabian Sea.