A fuel tanker was caught refuelling two foreign fishing canoes in PNG waters in West Sepik Province early Sunday morning.

The Papua New Guinea Defence Force navy boat HMPNGS Tarangau, on its way to Manus spotted the tanker refuelling two canoes near Aitape, well inside PNG territory.

The PNGDF navy vessel closed in and captured the tanker.

The two canoes escaped into the darkness towards the Indonesian border.

"The fishermen are staying out at sea all day and night catching fish in PNG waters which is a very serious matter and we will look into it more seriously," said Sandaun Governor Carlos Yuni.

He said the National Government with other governing bodies have dealt with previous cases very lightly, saying a K200 fine was not enough as a penalty fee and that they (illegal fishingmen and vessels) keep coming back.

"What good is it doing to the country?" he added.

Mr. Yuni said that the Sandaun Provincial Government should deal with the case with the 'strongest possible law'. "I commend the PNGDF for a job well done and I will engage them to sink the tanker or it will be forfeited to the Sandaun Provincial Government," he added.

He said also that there were strong PNG laws regulating illegal fishing and these laws must be fully enforced.

The Vanimo quarantine office said it was doing checks on the tanker, which was anchored at the Vanimo port. It declined to release any detailed information as inspections were not complete.

A provincial fisheries officer confirmed the capture of the tanker saying it was captured many kilometres into PNG waters. "This is very serious and we must deal with it very strongly," the officer said.

The officer also reported that an Indonesian fisherman caught and released on a K200 bail was inadequate and not strong enough a penalty.