Hong Kong and Guangdong authorities have arrested four Mainlanders in an illegal fishing crackdown.

Marine Police and the Agriculture, Fisheries & Conservation Department deployed 25 police launches and 11 other vessels to take enforcement action within Hong Kong waters during the 24-hour operation that started at 8am yesterday.

Sixteen vessels from the Guangdong Provincial Marine & Fisheries Inspection Bureau also took part.

Hong Kong officers inspected 87 fishing boats, and arrested three men and a woman, aged 16 to 55, for immigration offences. They also banned one Mainland vessel from entering Hong Kong waters.

The Guangdong side inspected 132 vessels in Mainland waters, and 49 of them were found to have violated Mainland regulations.

Similar joint operations will be conducted in future.