S.Atlantic : Australian Jury Acquitts Viarsa I of Poaching Charge
Submitted by SARTMA.com (Juanita Brock) 07.11.2005 (Article Archived on 21.11.2005)

A major blow to the Fisheries Protection effort off Australia has been dealt by a Perth District Court jury

VIARSA I NOT GUILTY OF POACHING SAYS AUSTRALIAN JURY

By J. Brock (FINN)

Viarsa I, a Uruguayan Long-liner arrested in late winter 2003 for poaching around Herd MacDonald Islands in the Indian Ocean has been found not guilty by an Australian District Court in Perth.  Also acquitted were Viarsa I’s Captain, Ricardo Mario Ribot Cabera, 58, and five of his crew from Uruguay, Spain and Chile.

The men and vessel were arrested approximately 900 km south-west of Gough Island in the South Atlantic after dodging Fisheries Patrol and auxiliary vessels from Australia, South Africa and the Falkland Islands – a three-week chase that covered over 7,000 km.

According to several Australian papers the jury in the first trial in December 2004 failed to reach a verdict.  They also say that the original chase cost the Australian Government at least $4.5 Million.

It is thought that Viarsa I will be released back to its owners and compensation of some $8 Million paid.  The award remains to be seen. 

One might take a little latitude in thinking that this whole mess never would have happened if Viarsa I stopped when told to so by Australian Authorities.  If they were not guilty of any offence, why did they cut and run?