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Toothfish poachers in Australian waters try to ram Sea Shepherd's “Sam Simon”

Tuesday, February 3rd 2015 - 06:59 UTC
Full article 15 comments

Two illegal fishing boats that evaded the New Zealand navy are now in Australian waters, but it's unclear whether local authorities will intervene. Conservation group Sea Shepherd on Monday said one of their ships patrolling the area, the Sam Simon, intercepted the Yongding and the Kunlun at 11.30am AEDT with prohibited fishing gear on its deck. Read full article

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  • Skip

    Australia and New Zealand have huge areas of water to patrol so it can't be easy.

    However saying that. The problem is simple to fix. Give boats 3 warnings over a 3 hour period to comply with a boarding request. Failure to accede and they are used for target practice.

    I estimate that all future boats will comply after the first two sink.

    Feb 03rd, 2015 - 08:12 am - Link - Report abuse 0
  • Frank

    Australia used to nail these boats.... they even carried 'prize crews' to take them back to Freo...what happened to that?

    Feb 03rd, 2015 - 08:26 am - Link - Report abuse 0
  • Klingon

    @1 Why bother with warning shots, there's no one around so sink em and move on. Limp dick politicians in NZ and Aus.

    Feb 03rd, 2015 - 10:05 am - Link - Report abuse 0
  • ChrisR

    @ 1 Skip

    I like your post but think it could be enhanced by the use of your diesel subs using them for target practice, with or without the crew: their choice.

    Feb 03rd, 2015 - 10:40 am - Link - Report abuse 0
  • Islander1

    Klingon- agree in issues like this the only Navies with guts to do what is right are the Chinese and the Russians - the rest including the Royal Navy are so tied up in political correct human rights they are pretty well useless as regards this type of international theft and piracy.

    Feb 03rd, 2015 - 10:54 am - Link - Report abuse 0
  • Britworker

    I'm quite sure that if one or two of these vessels began to get sunk without trace, the problem would reach an end.

    Feb 03rd, 2015 - 02:32 pm - Link - Report abuse 0
  • Captain Poppy

    Skip I am more inclined to think the Aussies Navy would do what our Coast Guard would do. After several failed requests, they would fire a starburst shot across the bow once or twice, request again, then a they would disable the vessel with a bow shot and perform an armed boarding. Ballsy fishermen.

    Feb 03rd, 2015 - 02:39 pm - Link - Report abuse 0
  • golfcronie

    @7
    Why a bow shot, surely a stern shot would be better as they would then have no propulsion and would then have to ask for assistance.

    Feb 03rd, 2015 - 04:15 pm - Link - Report abuse 0
  • Skip

    Captain Poppy

    I would hope so. However the areas to patrol are quite large and Sea Shepard for all its good has not endeared itself to the RAN. It is, however, something that needs more attention.

    Of course Klingon, being an Argentine, wouldn't understand the rule of law. So no, I don't support killing indiscriminately without warning. He however has been raised to believe it is acceptable.

    I wouldn't trade my “limp dick politicians” who obey the law and don't rob me blind for politicians from Argentina who are so selfish that they trample the law, rob the citizens blind and run the country down until it is a laughing stock and a shell of its former self. Throw in a couple of military dictatorship..... now they don't have limp dicks..... and your average Argentine has had his morals ground down to acquiescence.

    Limp dick politicians have given Australia and New Zealand envious standards of living and stability that not a single Spanish speaking country ON THE PLANET can exceed.

    Yep, give me limp dick over Latin machismo any day.

    Feb 03rd, 2015 - 04:48 pm - Link - Report abuse 0
  • Conqueror

    Shame about the Royal New Zealand and Australian navies. They must be pretty 'soviet' in style. “the NZ navy was denied permission to board and the vessels continued to fish despite being under the watch of HMNZS Wellington, which eventually had to return to port for refueling.” But then the Royal Navy would have gone ahead, complied with their operational orders and done their job. Because RN captains are trusted. Trusted to do what is right in launching their nuclear missiles. And that is why those who fail are severely punished. What happened to RNZN Wellington's captain? Is the RAN sailing in the opposite direction? Not so long ago, the Royal Navy's HMS York 'warned' an argie corvette. That promptly apologised and changed course. Despite the lies of the nay-sayers, the Royal Navy has 77 commissioned vessels. Like the British Army and Royal Air Force, they are close to being the best of the best. When the United States wants to have one of its adventures, why does it ALWAYS want Britain on-side. Why did Schwarzkopf have to apologise to the SAS? That's why four Eurofighter Typhoons, 1200 troops and a single warship are enough to scare argies shitless.

    Feb 03rd, 2015 - 05:28 pm - Link - Report abuse 0
  • Klingon

    ??? You pommy pole smokers always try and tie Argentina into everything, even toothfish poaching off Austrailia.
    Give it a break!

    Feb 03rd, 2015 - 07:27 pm - Link - Report abuse 0
  • Frank

    @11.... The crews are probably from Pto Montt..... not quite Argentina but close.
    Back when Australia was arresting toothfish poachers Long Bay Jail was full of Chilean fishermen.
    Oh... and if you ever get to see 'the Secret Life of Walter Mitty'.... it has Chilean fishermen in it... fishing off Greenland....

    Feb 03rd, 2015 - 09:15 pm - Link - Report abuse 0
  • Briton

    The only good pirate is a dead pirate, so they say,

    sink them and perhaps others will avoid the NZ and Australian navies.

    Feb 03rd, 2015 - 09:27 pm - Link - Report abuse 0
  • Captain Poppy

    Golf. A mistake when I had Starburst on my mind. Yes a stern shot to take out the prop. I can't believe these fish pirates are so ballsy.

    Feb 03rd, 2015 - 11:27 pm - Link - Report abuse 0
  • Briton

    Meanwhile
    Oil exploration rig is leaving from Africa, should be drilling in Falklands waters by March http://en.mercopress.com/2015/02/03/falklands-oil-drilling-program-confirmed-rig-from-western-africa-on-its-way
    And something for all to read, and its very interesting
    George Osbourne’s big day out in Portsmouth
    http://en.mercopress.com/2015/02/03/falklands-oil-drilling-program-confirmed-rig-from-western-africa-on-its-way
    ///
    What to do about the disappearing Royal Navy
    http://en.mercopress.com/2015/02/03/falklands-oil-drilling-program-confirmed-rig-from-western-africa-on-its-way
    Dear Boeing… yours David
    Dear Boeing Aircraft company,
    http://en.mercopress.com/2015/02/03/falklands-oil-drilling-program-confirmed-rig-from-western-africa-on-its-way
    ///
    Is Britain prepared for the naval challenges of a new Cold War?
    http://en.mercopress.com/2015/02/03/falklands-oil-drilling-program-confirmed-rig-from-western-africa-on-its-way

    Feb 04th, 2015 - 11:11 am - Link - Report abuse 0

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