MercoPress. South Atlantic News Agency

“Viarsa1” under Uruguayan authorities arrest

Uruguay confirmed this Tuesday it had ordered the long liner “Viarsa 1” that is under hot pursuit from Australian authorities for allegedlly illegal fishing, to return to Uruguay and are expecting her back in a few days time.

"We will then check if she effectively has been poaching", indicated Foreign Minister Didier Opertti adding that what has happened with this vessel is "not encouraging", but "must not be dramatized either".

Captain Yamandu Flangini, Director of DINARA, (Department of Acquatic Resources) fiurther revealed that the captain of the "Viarsa 1" sent a fax saying he will comply with the Uruguayan authorities order to immediately return to Montevideo, "and considers himself arrested by Uruguayan authorities".

Contrary to was reported earlier, Captain Yamandú Flangini admitted that he has been in regular contact with the captain of the long liner, "since radio contact was re-established" and confirmed an observer from DINARA is on board.

"The obserber' job is to obserb; if poaching occurs there's nothing he can do but report, when he returns to port, what ever happened on board from a technical and legal point", stressed Captain Flangini.

Meantime Australian authorities delivered an official joint media release signed by Senator Chris Ellison, Minister for Justice and Customs, Senator Ian Macdonald, Minister for Fisheries, Foresty and Conservation and Dr Sharman Stone MP, Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister for the Environment.

An international contingent of vessels has converged on the alleged illegal fishing vessel Viarsa in the South Atlantic Ocean overnight (Australian time).

The Australian Customs and Fisheries patrol vessel Southern Supporter has been pursuing the vessel through treacherous Antarctic waters since it was first sighted in the Australian Fishing Zone around Heard Island and McDonald Islands on 7 August.

Australian Federal Fisheries Minister, Senator Ian Macdonald, and Justice and Customs Minister, Senator Chris Ellison, said that overnight a South African ocean-going salvage tug had rendezvoused with the Australian Customs and Fisheries patrol vessel Southern Supporter and the Viarsa.

Senator Ian Macdonald said that the tug, John Ross, left Cape Town on 21 August with an Australian fisheries officer and armed South African Fisheries officers on board to join the pursuit of the Viarsa.

"In addition, a UK fisheries vessel, based at the Falkland Islands, has arrived to join the pursuit and assist the Australian and South African vessels," Senator Macdonald said.

"The deployment of the additional vessels to join the chase was not publicised for operational reasons."

Senator Chris Ellison said that all four vessels are now in visual range of each other approximately 1800 nautical miles west-south-west of Cape Town.

"The South African polar ice-breaker SA Agulhas, is still proceeding to the scene to offer additional support as required," Senator Ellison said.

"The weather conditions have turned extremely severe with the four vessels encountering snow storms and the full impact of the Roaring Forties.

"The Australian Government is continuing to work with Uruguay to bring the vessel to account - in our view this includes ensuring the Viarsa complies with all instructions from Australian authorities."

The record breaking hot pursuit of the Viarsa by the Southern Supporter has now entered its 20th day.

The pursuit has covered more than 4000 nautical miles (7400km) since the Viarsa was allegedly detected fishing illegally inside the Australian Fishing Zone near Heard Island and McDonald Islands on 7 August 2003.

Last Australian Customers Joint Media Release ?

Senator Chris Ellison, Minister for Justice and Customs, Senator Ian Macdonald, Minister for Fisheries, Foresty and Conservation and Dr Sharman Stone MP, Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister for the Environment.

Talks with the Uruguayan Government continue as an international contingent pursues the alleged illegal fishing vessel Viarsa in the middle of the South Atlantic Ocean. Federal Fisheries Minister, Senator Ian Macdonald, said that a productive meeting had taken place this morning between Australian and Uruguayan officials. "The Secretary of the Department of Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry, Mr Michael Taylor, this morning met with Uruguayan Ambassador, His Excellency Pedro Mo Amaro to discuss the current situation," Senator Macdonald said. "It is clear that there is a prima facie case of the Viarsa breaching international, Australian and Uruguayan laws." The Uruguayan Ambassador agreed that illegal fishing is of serious concern for both countries and that Uruguay, as the flag State, would cooperate to ensure that the Viarsa is brought to account. "The strong supportive enforcement response, which includes cooperation from South Africa and the UK, is an indication of just how seriously the international community views these alleged offences and is a demonstration that we can work together to combat illegal fishing," Senator Macdonald said. Faced by such a show of international unity on the high seas, we expect that the Master of the Viarsa should comply with directions to follow the Australian patrol vessel to an appropriate port. South African ocean?going salvage tug John Ross has joined the Australian Customs and Fisheries patrol vessel Southern Supporter, with an Australian Fisheries officer and armed South African fisheries officers on board, and a UK vessel has also been deployed from the Falkland Islands to assist the other vessels which are now surrounding the Viarsa. Minister for Justice and Customs, Senator Chris Ellison, confirmed that he is aware that a Uruguayan official is aboard the Viarsa. "Until we apprehend the vessel and its crew, and there is a full investigation, we cannot speculate on the involvement of the Uruguayan scientific observer who is on board the Viarsa. The observer is only one of a crew that consists mainly of Uruguayan, Spanish and Chilean nationals," Senator Ellison said. Senator Ellison praised those Government agencies which had worked around the clock to coordinate the international support that Australia was receiving, and the efforts of those officers on-the-water. "Australian officials have been working day and night, across time zones, to coordinate the arrival of the vessels from South Africa and the UK. This great work complements the extraordinary professionalism of the Australians on the patrol vessels," he said.