Madrid, Spain (CNN) -- A Spanish fishing boat repelled an attack by suspected pirates Sunday morning in the Indian Ocean off the African coast, Spain's ministry of defense said.





The Spanish Ortube Berria fishing vessel was in waters southwest of the Seychelles when pirates aboard two skiffs opened fire on the ship with light arms and a grenade shot from a launcher, according to a defense ministry news release. The Seychelles are a group of islands located north of Madagascar and southeast of Somalia, whose coastal waters have become known for piracy.





The attack happened at about 5:40 a.m., the ministry said.





A private security company aboard the fishing vessel returned fire and thwarted the attack, the statement said.





No one was injured, and the ship did not suffer any material damage.





Following the attack, the Ortube Berria was sailing southward away from the area, the defense ministry said.





Pirates have captured more than 50 ships this year off Somalia and are currently holding 11, according to information from Spanish Defense Minister Carme Chacon.





Earlier this month, the crew of another Spanish fishing boat, the Alakrana, was released by Somali pirates after 47 days in captivity.





The Alakrana was hijacked off the coast of Somalia.





On Sunday, the commander of a European Union anti-piracy operation, deployed a Portuguese frigate based in the area toward the site of the attack, Spanish authorities said.





CNN's Per Nyberg contributed to this report.
Who returned fire? How many ships have pirates capture? Where were the fishing boats from? In what ocean did the attack occur? Where was the attack? How many ships have been captured? From what nation was the fishing boat?
A Spanish fishing boat 50 Spain Indian Indian Ocean off the African coast, 50 Spain
question: Who returned fire?, answer: A Spanish fishing boat | question: How many ships have pirates capture?, answer: 50 | question: Where were the fishing boats from?, answer: Spain | question: In what ocean did the attack occur?, answer: Indian | question: Where was the attack?, answer: Indian Ocean off the African coast, | question: How many ships have been captured?, answer: 50 | question: From what nation was the fishing boat?, answer: Spain