Indonesia has nabbed 13 Vietnamese fishing vessels suspected of trawling in its waters on Tuesday.

According to The Jakarta post, 13 boats flying Vietnamese flags were arrested during a routine patrol in the eastern part of the Natuna Sea.

Indonesia’s Maritime Affairs and Fisheries Ministry said a total of 94 crewmembers had been detained and will be charged.

Their penalty carries a maximum sentence of six years in prison and a fine equivalent to A$1.95 million.

Meanwhile, Cambodian authorities announced earlier this week that it had arrested 16 Vietnamese nationals for trawling in shallow Cambodian waters.

Marine police seized three boats and detained 16 Vietnamese people accused of using the illegal fishing method.

According to Cambodian law, trawling in shallow waters that’s less than 20 meters deep, or using electrified nets, as many trawlers do, are crimes that carry prison time.

Critics have argued the practice is environmentally catastrophic, destroying breeding grounds and endangering turtles and fish.

– TiVi Tuan-san