MercoPress. South Atlantic News Agency

Money reward for information on toothfish poaching.

A new international alliance of legal Patagonian toothfishers formed to protect sustainable toothfish resources is offering a reward of $ US 100,000 for information leading to the conviction of fishers, companies, directors or employees involved in illegal fishing operations.

Details of the new alliance, the Coalition of Legal Toothfish Operators (COLTO) and its campaign was launched this week in Brussels at one of the world's largest seafood expos, the European Seafood Exposition. More than 1,100 seafood companies from over 65 countries are attending the three- day event.

COLTO spokesperson Hamish Wylie, Chairman of Consolidated Fisheries Limited from Falkland Islands/Isles Malvinas, said major elements of the campaign designed to gather information included a website, a Wanted Poster in seven languages and an international free call center.

The free-call center can be accessed from 15 countries including Indonesia, Hong Kong, Spain, France, New Zealand, the United States, the United Kingdom, South Africa, Chile, China and Singapore.

"Industry members come from New Zealand, Spain, South Africa, Australia, Chile, Argentina, United Kingdom, Namibia, Uruguay and France. All of us are committed to working with governments, conservation groups and the general public to highlight the need for urgent action to combat illegal toothfish pirates," Mr Wylie said.

Mr Wylie said COLTO members represent more than half of the total global legal production catching over 15,000 tonnes of toothfish per year.

"Our objective is to stop any toothfish being taken illegally before unscrupulous operators put us out of business and decimate toothfish stocks.'

"To help achieve this objective, COLTO is calling on the public for its help. We have set up the free call center and the website to encourage people to come forward and provide information to us in a safe and non ?threatening environment."

"Add to this our comprehensive industry contacts and COLTO will provide even better intelligence and marketing information on those that participate in this high seas piracy to government agencies and surveillance bodies. Governments can then move to prosecute and eliminate them," Mr Wylie said.

COLTO is offering large rewards because it knows it is dealing with syndicated crime on a global scale and it will take the combined efforts of all us to fight and stop these illegal activities.'

Jenny Hodder - Media Contacts

Hamish Wylie

Contact number in Brussels 6-8th May 2003. mob 0044-7986-547-607. Further information available including images, broadcast quality video, contact list for members and international free call phone number list.