Viarsa capture 'a warning'

2003-09-05 12:47

Cape Town - The arrest of suspected toothfish poacher Viarsa I showed that the plunder of marine resources in the southern oceans would not be tolerated, said acting environment minister Ronnie Kasrils on Friday.

He was speaking at a ceremony in Table Bay harbour to welcome the Australian customs and fisheries patrol vessel, Southern Supporter, which will escort the Viarsa to Australia.

"The signal that has been sent out is that poaching will be dealt with, that we have the means, that we have the sea legs," said Kasrils.

"The message is abundantly clear, demonstrated through the co-operation between Australian and South African fisheries officers and our governments, and that is that this world and these two countries will not tolerate poaching of any kind."

He said the capture of the Viarsa 1 last week, about 3 500km southwest of Cape Town, after a 21-day chase by the Southern Supporter and South African vessels was a tribute to the co-operation between the two governments.

"It's about support between countries who are pledged to uphold conventions and treaties throughout the world on the high seas," he said.

Australian high commissioner to South Africa Ian Wilcock said the co-operation had been "wholeheated, imaginative, courageous and highly effective".

He said the Patagonian toothfish - of which the Viarsa 1 has about 85 tons on board - was on the verge of extinction and if poachers were allowed to continue unchecked it would disappear.

"We want illegal fishing vessels, those that would plunder our oceans, those that would defy Australian and South African and international law, to understand we're coming after you. You can run, but you can't hide. Even among the icebergs."

- SAPA