No escape for poachers

2003-08-27 22:14

Cape Town - South African seamen helped Australian officials capture the Uruguayan trawler, Viarsa 1, suspected of poaching Patagonian toothfish after a 20-day chase across the South Atlantic on Wednesday night and arrested her 40 crew, environmental affairs department spokesperson Phindile Makwakwa told Sapa.

Makwakwa said the crew were arrested about 18:15.

Minister of Environmental Affairs and Tourism Mohammed Valli Moosa said on Wednesday night that the Australian fishery officers, together with the South African department's fishery control officers boarded the Viarsa by inflatable dinghy in icy conditions.

"In a well-planned operation, the SA Agulhas, the Southern Supporter and a British fishery patrol vessel the Dorada intercepted the Viarsa enabling the Australians to carry out the arrest."

South African fishery control officers onboard the SA Agulhas joined the chase over a week ago, and together with the John Ross, intercepted the Viarsa approximately 3 600km south west of Cape Town late on Wednesday afternoon.

Moosa said the support rendered by his department to the Australian authorities was part of an increased effort by the SA government to protect Patagonian toothfish and other fish stocks that occur in "South Africa's exclusive economic zone and in the fragile ecosystem of the Southern Ocean".

South African, British help

The minister said that the government was well regarded internationally for its efforts to stamp out illegal fishing both in South African waters and on the high seas.

Earlier on Wednesday, Dave Murray of Smit Marine in Cape Town, owners of the South African tug John Ross, one of the pursuing vessels, said the John Ross was on one side of the Viarsa 1 on Wednesday morning while Australia's Southern Supporter was on the other side. The Dorada was astern of her, he said.

The Viarsa 1 was spotted early in August with its nets down in the southern ocean close to the Heard and McDonald islands, apparently poaching Patagonian toothfish in Australia's economic exclusion zone.

The Australians gave chase and enlisted the help of South Africa and Britain.

The Viarsa 1 ignored several calls to heave to and allow inspectors to board.

Murray said the John Ross was hired by the Australian government to take fisheries personnel to the Southern Supporter, which had been pursuing the Viarsa 1 since it was caught poaching.

The Australian inspectors were transferred to the Southern Supporter on Wednesday, said Murray.

- SAPA