SA may help chase poachers

2003-08-17 19:11

Johannesburg - South Africa could go to Australia's aid in chasing a Uruguayan vessel suspected of poaching Patagonian toothfish, and hopefully apprehending the crew, officials said on Sunday.

Horst Kleinschmidt, head of marine and coastal management, said Environment Affairs and Tourism Minister Valli Moosa may comment on the subject at a noon media conference on Monday.

Australian authorities had asked for South Africa's assistance in helping their patrol vessel, Southern Support, chase the alleged poachers.

Kleinschmidt said the Uruguayan ship was now trapped in ice about 1 000km south of Cape Town, with the Australian vessel keeping just north of the icepack, watching the suspected poachers.

"It could get free and carry on westwards. It may be that others should arrest the ship," Kleinschmidt said.

South Africa's Aghulas is at Marion Island, but a helicopter and a load of steel bound for the South African base in Antarctica would have to be off-loaded before Aghulas would be able to join the chase.

The Uruguyan ship is suspected of poaching toothfish near Heard and McDonald islands. The islands are external territories of Australia located in the southern Indian Ocean about 4 000km south-west of Perth and within the Antarctic Convergence.

The Australian Fisheries Management Authority's website notes that the islands and the territorial sea around them - to 12 nautical miles - are a wilderness reserve, managed by the Australian Antarctic Division, and closed to fishing.

Patagonian toothfish, considered a delicacy, are one of two principal species found there.

Kleinschmidt said South Africa was able and "keen" to help the Australians, but needed to consider logistics.

There was constant contact between the South African and Australian authorities.

- SAPA