More than 2,700 metric tons of tuna were seized from boats moored off Phuket, Thailand, suspected of illegal, unreported and unregistered (IUU) fishing, reports the Phuket News.
The operators of the vessels — which were raided on Sep. 2 at the Phuket Deep Sea Port, Ao Makham — were arrested seven months ago.
Phuket Fisheries officials brought in workers and a crane truck to remove the monster haul from the two fishing boats, which were captured by the Royal Thai Navy on Jan. 30 for fishing illegally in Thai waters.
One Phuket Fisheries official explained that his office had received the order to remove the seized tuna after the managing director of Siamtuna Fisheries — which owns the two boats — requested the Department of Fisheries remove the tuna as it could not afford to store the cargo any longer.