South Africa has charged the Chinese skippers with fishing in SA waters with no permission and evading the law.
Dianxin Jiang, 57, skipper of hi-tech fishing vessel Fu Yuan Yu 7880, Baohua Qi, 40, skipper of Fu Yuang Yu 7881 and Jianbo Yu, 46, skipper of Run Da 617, appeared in district magistrate Robyn Tyler's A Court in East London.
They face three charges of possessing fishing product and equipment without a permit, failing to obey an order from fisheries officers to stop their vessels, and possessing fishing gear in South Africa's exclusive economic zone without a permit.
They did not plead and Tyler released them on condition that they do not leave their vessels, which are berthed in East London's port.
If they had to leave this had to be with permission from the Hawks, who yesterday took over the case from a range of government departments.
The accused, who appeared in casual clothes, looked slightly bewildered and, when asked by their attorney, well-known East London resident, Peter Allam, if the court session could be video'd, said they had no objection.
The charges, conditions of release, and their next court appearance were carefully explained to each skipper by an interpreter speaking Mandarin under the instruction of the magistrate.
The chairwoman of the East London Chinese Association, Lequin Zhu, who was in the gallery with a friend, said the local Chinese community was there to provide interpretation and communication.
"They do not speak English at all," she said.
Trawler captains charged with illegal fishing in SA waters
Dianxin Jiang, 57, skipper of hi-tech fishing vessel Fu Yuan Yu 7880, Baohua Qi, 40, skipper of Fu Yuang Yu 7881 and Jianbo Yu, 46, skipper of Run Da 617, appeared in district magistrate Robyn Tyler's A Court in East London.
They face three charges of possessing fishing product and equipment without a permit, failing to obey an order from fisheries officers to stop their vessels, and possessing fishing gear in South Africa's exclusive economic zone without a permit.
They did not plead and Tyler released them on condition that they do not leave their vessels, which are berthed in East London's port.
If they had to leave this had to be with permission from the Hawks, who yesterday took over the case from a range of government departments.
The accused, who appeared in casual clothes, looked slightly bewildered and, when asked by their attorney, well-known East London resident, Peter Allam, if the court session could be video'd, said they had no objection.
The charges, conditions of release, and their next court appearance were carefully explained to each skipper by an interpreter speaking Mandarin under the instruction of the magistrate.
The chairwoman of the East London Chinese Association, Lequin Zhu, who was in the gallery with a friend, said the local Chinese community was there to provide interpretation and communication.
"They do not speak English at all," she said.
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