MNA � The Director General of Fisheries office in the southwestern province of Sistan and Baluchistan said Sun. two Chinese fishing ships that were illegally searching for fish in Chabahar waters have been seized and their crew are awaiting trial.

The Director General of Fisheries office in the southwestern province of Sistan and Baluchistan Mirmorad Zehi said �the two ships were trawling in Iran�s territorial waters on the Chabahar coast, where they were confiscated and their crew were arrested and handed over to the court.�

Zehi added "the two ships were using offshore bottom-fishing method which can cause a lot of destruction to the natural habitats of the region.�

He pointed out that the fishing permits in the waters of Oman Sea are only granted by the Fisheries Organization, adding that there are no trawling ships in Chabahar and Konarak, and those kinds of ships come to the Oman Sea from other parts of the country�s coastal areas.�

With respect to the presence of Chinese trawling vessels in the waters of Chabahar and Konarak, Zehi noted "no permit has been issued for foreign vessels to enter the waters of the province and whenever they are spotted, they will be dealt with by the Fisheries Organization's Protection Unit.�