MercoPress. South Atlantic News Agency

South Africa joins in chase for Uruguayan poacher

South Africa has joined Australia in the hunt for a South American vessel fleeing sub-Antarctic waters with what is believed to be a valuable cargo of illegally-caught Patagonian toothfish, official said yesterday.

The customs and fisheries patrol boat Southern Supporter has been in hot pursuit of the Uruguayan-flagged Viarsa since it was spotted inside Australia's fishing zone about 4,000 kilometres (2,500 miles) south-west of the mainland 10 days ago. The Viarsa has ignored repeated radio orders to stop and is reported to be fleeing in a westerly direction at maximum speed in a mountainous, freezing ocean, dodging icebergs as it goes.

The stakes are high on both sides: for the Viarsa, a cargo probably worth millions of dollars and for Australian its sovereignty over an area rich in the increasingly endangered but extremely valuable deep sea dwelling toothfish. But with a second patrol vessel now approaching from South Africa, Australian and South African authorities say they are confident the Viarsa will be caught.

"If there are two vessels it would find it presumably extremely difficult to escape or go further," South Africa's deputy director-general of environment Horst Kleinschmidt told ABC Radio in South Africa.

"The captain on the Viarsa would be told that an action was imminent and that either through siding up to the vessel, or through a helicopter, officials will mount the vessel, that he should subject himself to that, he has no other option, that he would then be accompanied to whatever jurisdiction it is decided she should go to."

Kleinschmidt said that could either be to Australia or, if it was nearer Cape Town, to South Africa.

"If he resists that, which we would think unlikely, then of course the crew know that they face criminal charges and extradition issues in many other countries," he added.

"We think in normal circumstances our doing something together with the Australian vessel we would in fact succeed to conduct apprehension."

Kleinschmidt said the South African vessel was not armed but inspectors carried hand guns. "The very fact that people do this and would in the process presumably forfeit their vessel and its contents shows what price some markets will pay for its contents and that is untenable," he said.

Australian Fisheries Minister Ian McDonald said Australia has also been involved in diplomatic discussions with Uruguay which has agreed to cooperate by taking action against the Viarsa if it becomes possible. (FIS/MP).-

Record high Chilean fishery exports

Chilean fishery exports earned USD 1,109 billion during the first six months, 17.5% increase on the same period last year - despite a 3.8% drop in volume to 641,719 tonnes. The sector hopes to break the USD 2 billion barrier and export a record breaking 2,3 billion US dollars worth of fishery products by the end of the year, according to the National Fishing Association (Sonapesca).

Sonapesca general manager Cristián Jara, attributes the export success to the 10 years of catch limits set by the short term fishing law that was passed last year to bring overall stability and security to the Chilean fishing industry.

Quoted by El Mercurio, Mr. Jara said the new law encouraged companies to shift the focus of investment by spending less on boosting the efficiency of their vessels, --in order to compete between themselves--, and more on processing to increase added value. "Companies are no longer rushing to turn everything into fishmeal", said Mr. Jara.

The biggest increases were in fish oil, which was up 37%, and canned products with 30%. Fishmeal exports were down 2.9 per cent. Frozen fish exports were up 29%, with salmon representing 93% of the total. During the first six months, fresh and frozen salmon export revenue was up 30% on the same period last year, although the export volume was down 21%. Patagonian grenadier exports were up 53% in volume.

Atlantic salmon accounted for 50% of exports with 76,068 tonnes, an 11%drop on the first six month of 2002, according to the Salmon Industry Association (SalmonChile). Coho salmon exports were down 46% in volume at 43,409 tonnes, representing 23% of the total salmon export volume. Trout exports dropped 8% to 41,086 tonnes and represented 27% of the total export volume.

Meanwhile, the value of frozen horse mackerel and Patagonian grenadier exports were up 27% to USD 33.6 million. At USD 17 million, horse mackerel sales surpassed other more traditional fish like conger and hake. Canned horse mackerel exports were up 12% in volume and also 26% in revenue to USD 30 million.

Fishery product prices have generally remained stable throughout the industry, according to Sonapesca. This is especially true of fishmeal prices which averaged USD 600/tonne during the January- June period. (FIS/MP).-