MercoPress. South Atlantic News Agency

Australia arms vessel to combat toothfish poaching.

Australian authorities have fitted an Antarctic research ship with machine guns in a bid to increase efforts to deter Patagonian toothfish poachers in the Southern Ocean.

Around 40 Customs officers have received comprehensive weapons training and the Hobart-based Aurora Australis vessel has been fitted with two deck-mounted 50-calibre machine guns, reports ABC.

According to the Australian Federal Justice Minister, Chris Ellison, these new measures should go some way to deterring potential poachers.

"The 50-calibre machine guns, which it has mounted, we believe send a very clear signal to anyone who's engage in illegal fishing that we're very serious about what we're doing," he said.

Although the use of this vessel for patrolling is only a temporary measure, Australian Customs has already announced its plans to lease a permanent patrol boat by the end of the year.

The vessel will be mainly responsible for patrolling the region around Heard and MacDonald islands, in Australia's exclusive economic zone, where the vast majority of poaching takes place. Poachers tend to operate in that area due to its stocks of Patagonian toothfish, which are dwindling due to this illegal practice.

Although Customs officers are still in the final stages of training to operate the patrol vessel, operations will begin as soon as their final sea trials have been conducted. (FIS)