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Fish Pirates Will Be Shot, Says Australia
The Telegraph (UK) ^ | 12-7-2006 | Nick Squires

Posted on 12/06/2006 6:48:38 PM PST by blam

Fish pirates will be shot, says Australia

By Nick Squires
Last Updated: 2:37am GMT 07/12/2006

The Royal Australian Navy has been given permission to shoot at pirate fishing boats plundering the country's rich tropical waters.

Warships and customs patrol boats operating off Australia's north coast have captured a record 357 illegal fishing boats this year, most of them Indonesian vessels hunting sharks for their fins. "Our patrol boats will be allowed to fire directly to disable a vessel which is ignoring orders and which is seeking to escape apprehension," said Brendan Nelson, the defence minister. "It is extremely important that anybody who comes to this country seeking to steal our fish and breach our sovereignty knows they will be met with a very strong, disciplined Australian navy," he said. Sailors would also be authorised to use tear gas and pepper spray, he added.

The tough rules have been introduced in response to increasing violence from illegal fishing crews. Australian naval boarding parties have been confronted by knives, machetes and sharpened bamboo poles.

An armada of pirate fishing boats are poaching sharks, reef fish and other species in a swathe of Australian territorial waters from Queensland to Western Australia. Smaller vessels are backed up by larger "ice boats", mother ships equipped with freezer holds, high-definition radar and echo sounders. The scale of poaching has increased as Indonesian waters suffer from overfishing.


TOPICS: News/Current Events
KEYWORDS: australia; fireone; fish; goodriddance; pirates; plundering; texastech
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1 posted on 12/06/2006 6:48:41 PM PST by blam
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To: blam

I'm somewhat old fashioned. I think they should have to walk the plank.


2 posted on 12/06/2006 6:51:11 PM PST by Paleo Conservative (Karl Rove isn't magnificent.)
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To: blam

Shame the principle of defensive violence should apply so narrowly.

Glad those fish are safe, however. Seriously.


3 posted on 12/06/2006 6:51:36 PM PST by SteveMcKing
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To: blam

More Chum!


4 posted on 12/06/2006 6:56:11 PM PST by Mike Darancette (Democrat Happens!)
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To: blam

Are these the ones who use the fins for problems with the Johnson?


5 posted on 12/06/2006 6:56:47 PM PST by Screamname (Tagline: (optional, printed after your name on post))
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To: blam

Arrrrrrr. Shiver me sardines. What's a poor pirate to do?


6 posted on 12/06/2006 6:57:35 PM PST by dynachrome ("Where am I? Where am I going? Why am I in a handbasket?")
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To: blam

Good for them.. I think we could use a little more Aussie moxie over here.


7 posted on 12/06/2006 6:58:27 PM PST by Arizona Carolyn
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To: Screamname
Not used for the one-eyed wonder worm but the taste buds. Shark fin soup is a delicacy in Japan. I think it tastes like salt water and soap.
8 posted on 12/06/2006 7:00:06 PM PST by MindBender26 (Having my own CAR-15 in RVN meant never having to say I was sorry....)
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To: blam


Man that's some Tough Rangers/Game Wardens.

9 posted on 12/06/2006 7:00:20 PM PST by SandRat (Duty, Honor, Country. What else needs to be said?)
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To: blam

Jolly good. A .50 cal though the engine block, or chest can ruin a pirate's entire afternoon.


10 posted on 12/06/2006 7:01:19 PM PST by MindBender26 (Having my own CAR-15 in RVN meant never having to say I was sorry....)
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To: blam

11 posted on 12/06/2006 7:02:48 PM PST by gaijin
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To: blam
"Our patrol boats will be allowed to fire directly to disable a vessel which is ignoring orders and which is seeking to escape apprehension," said Brendan "

How about shoot to sink the raiders. Forget the "disable" nonsense. One less pirate boat to deal with.

12 posted on 12/06/2006 7:02:49 PM PST by StormEye
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To: blam
"Our patrol boats will be allowed to fire directly to disable a vessel which is ignoring orders and which is seeking to escape apprehension," said Brendan "

How about shoot to sink the raiders. Forget the "disable" nonsense. One less pirate boat to deal with.

13 posted on 12/06/2006 7:02:52 PM PST by StormEye
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To: blam

14 posted on 12/06/2006 7:03:46 PM PST by gaijin
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To: StormEye
If you just sink them, you can't plunder the loot on board.
15 posted on 12/06/2006 7:13:27 PM PST by BallyBill (Serial Hit-N-Run poster)
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To: blam
This is disgusting. "Pirate fishing boats?" So, who are the pirates here? "Australian naval boarding parties have been confronted by knives, machetes and sharpened bamboo poles." The peaceful owners of fishing boats defend themselves against, "boarding parties," and they are called the pirates? Sorry, the pirates are the government thugs who initiate the force.

Hank

16 posted on 12/06/2006 7:22:44 PM PST by Hank Kerchief
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To: blam

So how do you blokes feel about fishing for walleyes and shooting hippies?


17 posted on 12/06/2006 7:27:51 PM PST by sergeantdave (Consider that nearly half the people you pass on the street meet Lenin's definition of useful idiot)
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To: blam

Oh, oh. 85% of Indonesians are Muslims. If these pirates are also Muslims, we can expect the "Religion of Peace" to be firing back at Australians -- righteous indignation followed by terrorist attacks.


18 posted on 12/06/2006 7:28:15 PM PST by Solitar ("My aim is not to pass laws, but to repeal them." -- Barry Goldwater)
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To: All

19 posted on 12/06/2006 7:29:35 PM PST by monkapotamus
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To: Hank Kerchief
That might carry some water if they were Australian fishermen but they're Indonesian fishermen dude; invaders, violators of national sovereignity...
20 posted on 12/06/2006 7:30:22 PM PST by Axenolith (Got Au? Ag?)
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