The Royal Solomon Islands Police Force Transnational Crime Unit have charged the captains of the two foreign fishing vessels that were apprehended earlier this year after they were discovered to be fishing illegally in Solomon Islands' waters.

The Transnational Crime Unit acted upon advice from the Office of the Director of Public Prosecutions who instituted charges against the masters, the charter company and the owners of the vessels on 28 February 2010.

The captains of the two foreign fishing vessels were charged respectively with 'A Foreign Long Line Fishing Vessel fishing in the Solomon Islands Water without a valid Foreign Fishing Vessel License' and 'Stowage of Fishing Gear by Foreign Fishing Vessel,' under the Fisheries Act 1998.

The captains and the crews of both foreign fishing vessels have been remanded in custody.