SA lauded for high seas catch
1 September 2003
The Australian high commissioner to South Africa has thanked the country for its cooperation in chasing and apprehending a Uruguayan vessel suspected of fishing illegally in Australian waters.
Quoted in The Star newspaper last week, Ian Wilcock said decisive cooperation from Environmental Affairs and Tourism Minister Mohammed Valli Moosa, the coastal management authority, the department of foreign affairs and other agencies had made the arrest possible.
Marine and Coastal Management, a branch of Moosa's department, announced on Friday that they had successfully assisted the Australians to arrest the Uruguayan-registered fishing vessel the Viarsa, which was suspected of fishing illegally in Australian waters off McDonald and Heard Islands.
Moosa said fishery control officers had boarded the SA Agulhas and joined the chase over a week ago, and together with the John Ross, had intercepted the Viarsa approximately 3 600 kilometres south-west
of Cape Town last Wednesday.
The Australians had been engaged in hot pursuit for 20 days, but were unable to effect an arrest without South Africa's help.
"The Australian fishery officers, together with the department's fishery control officers, boarded the Viarsa by inflatable dinghy in icy conditions," Moosa said. In a well-planned operation, the SA Agulhas icebreaker, the Australian vessel Southern Supporter, and British fishery patrol vessel Dorada intercepted the Viarsa, enabling the Australians to carry out the arrest.
The support was part of an increased effort by the South African government to protect Patagonian toothfish and other fish stocks that are found in South Africa's exclusive economic zone and in the fragile ecosystem of the Southern Ocean.
Wilcock told The Star: "We must not underestimate the difficulty of such operations in very dangerous sub-Antarctic waters. This operation is an excellent example of cooperation between South Africa and
Australia, two countries that share many common interests."
Wilcock added that stamping out illegal fishing in the Southern Ocean would conserve the biodiversity of the oceans and the long-term viability of the two countries' respective fisheries.
Moosa said that South Africa was well regarded internationally for its efforts in stamping out illegal fishing both in South African waters and on the high seas.
SouthAfrica.info reporter
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