Customs ship chases trawler for 11 days

The Telegraph (U.K.) ^ | 08/19/03 | Nick Squires

[dr_who_2]

It's common knowledge that toothfish are forbidden under the Geneva conventions for the conduct of war and several treaties on controlling the proliferation of toothfish of mass destruction. This is a very serious matter indeed.

[Shermy]

AKA Chilean Sea Bass according to this site:

http://www.greenpeace.org.au/oceans/southern_ocean/toothfish.html

[Rudder]

Most trawlers, being displacement hulls, cannot go fast. But they can go near hull speed in sea that would thwart a faster, semi-displacement (planing) hull.

[marktwain]

Interesting "hot pursuit" based on mere suspision. They obviously cannot "know" because they haven't seen a single fish on board, fishing equipment, or talked to anyone on board.

Yet it is described as a "pirate ship".

I wonder if they are using some of the highly developed surveilance techniques from the war on terror?

[mdittmar]

Barbecued Chilean Sea Bass with Orange
INGREDIENTS
1-1 1/2 pounds Chilean sea bass fillet, bones removed, cut into serving pieces
3/4 cup orange juice
3 Tbsp. tomato paste
2 Tbsp. vegetable oil
2 Tbsp. vinegar
1 Tbsp. brown sugar or honey
2 cloves garlic, minced or pressed
1 tsp. grated orange zest
1 tsp. ginger ground
1/2 tsp. dried hot red pepper flakes

Rinse the Chilean sea bass with cold water and pat dry with paper towels. Set the fish in a shallow dish. Stir together the remaining ingredients in a small bowl until well combined, then pour over the fish, turning the fish so that it is evenly coated. Cover and marinate in the refrigerator for 1 to 3 hours. Preheat a charcoal grill or the broiler. Grill or broil the fish about 4 inches from the heat until well browned on one side, 3 to 5 minutes; brush with more marinade and cook on the other side until the fish is no longer opaque in the center, about 5 minutes longer.

P.S.
If you're cooking the Chilean sea bass on a charcoal grill, be sure that the fillet pieces are at least 1 1/2 inches thick to ensure that the fish won't fall apart when it is cooked.

Yummy!

[Fzob]

A sea chase in the icy Southern Ocean was heating up last night as customs officers pursued a trawler believed to be fleeing with a multi-million-pound haul of illegally caught Patagonian toothfish.

Boy am I glad somebody is keeping track of this very serious matter. </ sarcasm>

[Servant of the Nine]

I wonder if they are using some of the highly developed surveilance techniques from the war on terror?

Photoreconaisance satelites are in polar orbits. What else do they have to look at down there? Large fish like this are surely within the resolution of the latest generation cameras.

So9

[tet68]

"A stern chase is a long chase."

And in the Southern Ocean their lives are in danger every minute.

[joesnuffy]

Interesting "hot pursuit" based on mere suspision. They obviously cannot "know" because they haven't seen a single fish on board, fishing equipment, or talked to anyone on board.

Yet it is described as a "pirate ship".

I wonder if they are using some of the highly developed surveilance techniques from the war on terror?

If it were farmland near Waco it would be called a compound or an arsenal and it would be filled with meth and meth making equipment not to mention child pornography and little kids being violated..

You first have to give it the proper label...and put the word out...then you can blow the crap outta it and get some nice attaboys :)

[skepsel]

Does seem like something from Patrick O'Brian, doesn't it?

[tet68]

Would not want to be there, most of the accounts of sailors on the southern oceans paint a very grim picture.
Freezing cold, high seas of the type called "Grey Beards",
many a ship has been flipped end for end or rolled over. Fortunately they are not under sail but a mechanical breakdown could spell death.

The captain of the Trawler is in big trouble anyway, if
the custom ship was to go down, he would be in a real mess.
Exciting to me, will keep following this.

[Rudder]

It could well be the same type of vessel. I'm curious about the the chase ship.

[battousai]

"I wonder if they are using some of the highly developed surveilance techniques from the war on terror? "

No more likely they are using a decidedly older technology, called "if you keep running for 11 days you must be guilty of something"

:)

[LibKill]

DANG! Must be one of those 30-knot "trawlers" that used to follow our ships around in the Med.

Have the Russkis been selling them as surplus?

[Rebelbase]

Wave heights are in the 20-25'+ range down there right now, which is milder than the orange and red contours I've seen on this chart before.

[pabianice]

The Royal Australian Navy can't catch a fishing boat. Impressive. Good thing they're not chasing something really formidable, like a car ferry...

[tet68]

The Viarsa.

Pretty sleek vessel, looks fast and seaworthy. Of course with tons of fish on board may not so much. Still looking for photo of "southern supporter".

[tet68]

Nice graphic, got a link?
Have to call it a night will check back in am.
Tet 68 over and out.