Argentine navy sinks illegal fishing boat with Chinese flag

By Associated Press 16 March 2016, 12:00AM

BUENOS AIRES, Argentina (AP) — Argentina's navy announced Tuesday that it used gunfire to sink a boat flying the Chinese flag that was fishing illegally in national waters.

The navy statement said the boat was intercepted Monday off the coast of Puerto Madryn, about 907 miles (1,460 kilometers) south of Buenos Aires.

The statement said the boat did not heed warning calls and instead tried to ram an Argentine naval vessel. Sailors then shot holes in different parts of the fishing boat, causing it to sink, the navy said.

All four people on board were rescued and arrested. They remained in custody and were to go before a federal judge in southern Chubut province, the statement said.

The navy said it had been 15 years since one of its vessels last sank a foreign vessel fishing illegally in Argentina's waters.

By Associated Press 16 March 2016, 12:00AM
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