MercoPress. South Atlantic News Agency
Automatic forfeiture for “Maya V” in Australia
Owners of the Uruguayan-flagged deep ocean fishing “Maya V” have not sued against the capture of their ship by Australian authorities, forfeiting the boat to the fisheries management authority without contest.
The forfeiture occurred automatically at the beginning of this month when the boat's owners had failed to make application in the Federal Court against the application.
Worth an estimated $AUD5 million, the "Maya V" is a state-of-the-art deep sea fishing vessel now destined to be scuttled.
The vessel was apprehended after it was alleged to be fishing in the Australian Fishing Zone on January 21 this year.
When brought to Fremantle with its officers under arrest 35 crew were also charged with illegal fishing offences.
32 of the 35 have since pleaded guilty and gone home but three remain in Western Australia and may fight the charges.
The boat's owners, Alcimar SA - a Uruguayan company - may have bought the vessel at sea, and it has been alleged that it was owned by Navalmar at the time of its apprehension.
Peter Collins - Australia
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