United Arab Emirates authorities have detained 11 Asian fishermen from the Qatif for allegedly straying into UAE waters. The trespassing boat was seized and the fishermen detained, according to information reaching here. The sponsors of the 11 fishermen from the Qatif area are trying to arrange for the release of the detainees, and will most likely have to pay a large fine to have the men freed. The fishermen said that they did not deliberately enter UAE waters, claiming that were unaware that they had crossed an international border and thus entered the area inadvertently. The frequency of violating the territorial waters of Bahrain, Qatar, and UAE by fisherman is increasing because of the lack of signs demarcating maritime borders. According to fisherman in Dammam, Qatif and Jubail, international borders at sea are difficult to recognize as there are no means of identification and many times they cross borders accidentally. Last year more than 40 Indian fishermen from Dammam were detained by Qatari Coast Guards for violating that country's marine boundary. They were held for more than one month and were released only after paying a large fine.
