Navy boards illegal fishing boat

The Australian ^ | January 24, 2004

[Dundee]

Navy boards illegal fishing boat

A NAVY boarding party rappelled down ropes from a helicopter to seize a suspected illegal fishing boat in treacherous Antarctic seas, the federal government said today.

The boat, Maya V, was apprehended late yesterday for suspected poaching within Australia's economic zone around the remote Heard and McDonald Islands, more than 4000km south-west of Perth.

"Our frigate HMAS Warramunga and her sailors on patrol in Australia's southern oceans battled extremely bad weather and high seas to intercept and board the Maya V," Defence Minister Robert Hill said in a statement.

"It is a credit to their skill and professionalism that they were able to overcome dangerous conditions to successfully board the vessel."

The frigate first made contact with the Maya V on Thursday but the sailors abandoned an attempted boarding because of worsening weather.

The Maya V was issued with a legal direction to proceed to Fremantle.

When weather permitted late yesterday, the navy took control of the Maya V after sailors fast-roped to its deck from Warramunga's Seahawk helicopter.

The Maya V has a navy steaming party aboard and is being escorted by the Warramunga to Fremantle where it is expected in early February.

The Australian Fisheries Management Authority (AFMA) also has officers on board and will investigate the vessel and its suspected illegal catch further once it reaches Australia.

"This joint (Australian) Defence Force-AFMA apprehension marks another blow to illegal fishers and proves once again that Australia has the capability to act decisively in all sorts of locations and conditions to protect our fisheries resources and territorial waters," Fisheries Minister Ian Macdonald said.

The government announced last month it would lease an ice-strengthened ship, armed with a .50 calibre deck-mounted machine gun, to patrol Australia's remote fisheries, where the prized Patagonian toothfish is under threat from poachers.

[Dundee]

Having done a HIMI (Heard Island/McDonald Island) patrol I raise a beer for the poor sailors onboard Warramunga. Ice bergs, massive seas, freezing conditions, Antarctic storms... Not fun at all.

[HuntsvilleTxVeteran]

Patagonian Toothfish
a.k.a. Chilean Sea Bass
(Dissostichus eleginoides)

The Patagonian toothfish is a large, slender fish found in the cold, deep waters (up to 3200 feet) of the southern hemisphere. The average weight of a commercially caught toothfish is 20 pounds, though fully-grown adults can reach 250 pounds. It is a slow-growing and long-lived fish; it reaches maturity between 10 to 12 years and can live to be 50 years. Little else is known about the toothfish beyond these basics. Despite its market name, the Patagonian toothfish is not related to either the true sea basses or to other saltwater basses. The commercial fishery for Patagonian toothfish came about as a substitute for overfished species, such as orange roughy.

[Libertarianize the GOP]

ping

[farmfriend]

Rights, farms, environment ping.
Let me know if you wish to be added or removed from this list.
I don't get offended if you want to be removed.

[freepatriot32]

wha the hell is the american navy doing enforcing australian fishing laws if the aussie navy cant enforce thier fishing laws then they should be i shouldnt have to pay my tax dollars to protec t australian fish

[maui_hawaii]

Our frigate HMAS Warramunga

Get a clue dude.

[Enterprise]

(As Maui posted, it didn't have USS in front of the name in the article.)

[pabianice]

[maui_hawaii]

Its SOOO shocking that those Aussies actually have their own boats! :o)

[Enterprise]

LOL! I love the Aussies though. A truly great ally!

[maui_hawaii]

I used to live in OZ. Its a fun place. I have a big place in my heart for them.

[cynicom]

Not very hospitable of the Aussies. They are always preaching, be nice and everyone will be nice in return. And using GUNS??? How awful.

[dinodino]

Did you read the article?

[E.G.C.]

BTT!!!!!!

[Ernest_at_the_Beach]

"This joint (Australian) Defence Force-AFMA apprehension marks another blow to illegal fishers and proves once again that Australia has the capability to act decisively in all sorts of locations and conditions to protect our fisheries resources and territorial waters," Fisheries Minister Ian Macdonald said.

Anatartica is in their territorial waters?????

[maui_hawaii]

Link

[John H K]

They own a couple of islands near Australia. giving them control of the fisheries around those islands.

[Enterprise]

"Anatartica is in their territorial waters?????"

It is if they say so, and will be until a bigger ship with bigger guns comes along and disagrees with them.

[Ernest_at_the_Beach]

LOL!

[Ernest_at_the_Beach]

Thanks for the map, I see the islands!