MercoPress. South Atlantic News Agency

Australia arrests Cambodian flagged toothfish poacher

Australia arrested a Cambodian long-liner suspected of fishing illegally in sub-Antarctic waters which was later discovered to have 130 tons of Patagonian toothfish in the haul. The armed Australian patrol Oceanic Viking escorted Saturday the 76 metre, 2,145 tons Cambodian-flagged FV Taruman to port in Hobart in Tasmania, said Australian Fisheries Minister Ian Macdonald.

to port in Hobart in Tasmania, said Australian Fisheries Minister Ian Macdonald. "There are 31 crewmembers on board the Taruman of Chilean, Ukrainian, Russian, Peruvian and Spanish nationalities; all are reported to be in good health. We understand the master is Spanish and has been cooperating with Australian authorities" added Minister Macdonald.

The ship was boarded in international waters in the Southern Ocean, northwest of Australia's exclusive economic zone around Macquarie Island and about 660 nautical miles (1,200 kilometres) south of Hobart on September 6.

"This boarding on the high seas was done on the express permission of the Cambodian Government, the flag state of the vessel" reported Mr. Macdonald.

"We are very appreciative to the Cambodian Government for the cooperative way they have worked with the Australian Government in investigating the possible offences to the Australian fishing laws.

"The arrest on the high seas is unusual, but the evidence we have, which has been contributed to by New Zealand Government agencies, did give us reason to believe that offences may have been committed."

The penalty for illegal fishing is a fine of up to the equivalent of 637,000US dollars and forfeiture of the vessel.

"We do clearly want to send a message to would-be illegal operators that it is simply not worth your while to come into Australian waters and fish illegally" underlined Macdonald. The Macquarie Island fishery was home to the Patagonian toothfish and the government would go to great lengths to preserve it, he said.

Australia has provided over a hundred million US dollars for regular armed patrols against illegal fishing and is working closely with the French government, which has an adjoining territory, highlighted Mr. Macdonald.

The 31 crew is currently in Bronte Park Highland Village camping site, about two hours from Hobart, "a secure and isolated place".

"It's really a question of finding some accommodation to keep them in that's secure," Senator Macdonald said. No arrests had been made, nor had allegations been made against the crew. "We're simply conducting an investigation into whether offences have been committed in Australian waters".

The Fisheries Minister also revealed that the boarding of the Cambodian long-liner was the first by the new 105m patrol boat Oceanic Viking since the vessel was launched about a year ago. The vessel, which has twin 50-calibre machineguns on board patrols Australian waters around the sub-Antarctic Heard and McDonald islands. (FIS/MP).-