Egyptian fishermen's boat in Alexandria (Photo:Reuters)
Egyptian authorities are coordinating with their Tunisian counterparts to secure the release the 16 Egyptian fishermen arrested by the Tunisian coast guard on Monday, state owned news agency MENA reported.
Basel Salah, the acting Egyptian ambassador to Tunisia, told MENA that the Egyptian embassy confirmed that the detained fisherman are in good conditions.
In a statement issued on its official website, Tunisia's ministry of defense announced that the 16 fishermen were arrested on Monday on board an Egyptian fishing boat called "Abu Ashraf" while fishing illegally along the coast of the city of Zarzis, in southeastern Tunisia.
The fishing boat, registered in the city of Port Said in Egypt, is currently docked at Zarzis port and its crew in the custody of Tunisian national guard in the city, according to the Tunisian statement.
The fine of illegal fishing in Tunisian territorial waters is between USD 20,000 and 220,000.
This is one of the latest incidents involving Egyptian fishermen arrested in the territorial waters of neighboring countries like Sudan, Libya, and Tunisia.
Egypt’s ministry of foreign affairs typically intervenes in these cases and ensures the release of the fishermen.
In August, Tunisia released 15 Egyptian fishermen who were arrested near Sfax port, also for territorial breach.
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