This vessel was detected in Argentina’s EEZ in April 2019 and soon after in South Georgia and the Falkland Islands waters in May 2019. The vessel was intercepted and inspected. Inspections found deep water species, soft coral and other marine products but no bulk catch. The vessel was expelled from South Georgian waters and soon after struck an iceberg, severely mangling the bow. On 12 July 2019, this vessel was intercepted by two Indonesian fishery patrol vessels in the Strait of Malacca. The vessel was found to be falsifying registration documents. Despite being registered as a general cargo vessel, inspections found fish processing facilities on board, as well as crab pots and other fishing gear ready to be used on deck, and herring for bait. This vessel was included in the CCAMLR IUU list on in October 2020 for fishing without authorisation within the Convention Area. Vessel was named NIKA, flagged to Panama and owned by Jiho Shipping Ltd at the time of IUU listing. Sources suggest this vessel was previously detained by Russian authorities for illegal crab fishing but later released.
NIKA
8808654
Fishing Vessel, Reefer
588.000, 600.000, 750.000
471
54.010
3.760
198803
Tongyeong, Korea, South, Tongyeong, Republic of Korea
Jiho Shipping Co Ltd; Marine Fisheries Corporation Co Ltd; Jiho Shipping Ltd