19.08.2003

By GREG ANSLEY

South Africa's Agulhas

The haul is poached toothfish so sought-after they are known as "white gold". In a repeat of a similar 6100km pursuit of another boat found poaching Patagonian toothfish in Australia's southern waters two years ago, the South Africans have again agreed to join a chase that Canberra has vowed to continue "indefinitely". The first boat, the Spanish-manned longliner South Tomi, was boarded by Australian troops from a South African vessel 600km off the African coast in March 2001, with an illegal catch later sold by authorities for A$1.4 million ($1.57 million). Now the Australian Customs and Fisheries vessel Southern Supporter is in pursuit of the Viarsa, discovered poaching toothfish near Heard and McDonald islands on August 7. The Viarsa refused to stop to allow officials to board, instead heading out of Australian waters. Fisheries Minister Ian Macdonald said: "We will do whatever it takes, no matter long it takes, to see that the vessel is thoroughly investigated for suspected breaches of our Fisheries Management Act."

Diplomatic guns have also been drawn, with both Canberra and Durban renewing pressure on a reluctant Uruguay to order the Viarsa to head for a port in the company of the Southern Supporter. Uruguay has previously been attacked by Australia, France and South Africa for allowing ships sailing under its flag to poach in their southern territorial waters, despite its obligations under the Law of the Sea and its membership of the Commission for the Conservation of Antarctic Marine Living Resources. But Uruguay has told Canberra that it will only ask the Viarsa to return to port in Uruguay.

The response has infuriated the three other countries, who fear poaching will wipe out already-threatened toothfish stocks stripped for sky-high prices in northern hemisphere markets. The director of South Africa's Environment Department, Horst Kleinschmidt, said yesterday it would divert the high-speed, ice-reinforced fisheries vessel Agulhas from an Antarctic supply mission to intercept the Viarsa.

Kleinschmidt said despite severe weather conditions sweeping the Southern Ocean he was confident that the Southern Supporter and the Agulhas between them would arrest the Viarsa. If they failed to stop the poacher, it would face arrest at ports in other countries. "The Viarsa, if there are two [pursuit] vessels, would find it presumably extremely difficult to escape or go further," Kleinschmidt said.

"The captain on the Viarsa will be told that an action is imminent and that either through siding up to the vessel, or through a helicopter, officials will mount the vessel, that he must subject himself to that, that he has no other option." If arrested, the Viarsa would be taken to Australia or South Africa.

In 2001, the Togo-registered South Tomi was returned to Australia where Spanish skipper Leonardo Aviles was fined A$136,000 and his crew deported at the owner's expense.

The high-priced Patagonian toothfish, also known as Chilean sea bass, is much sought after. Demand for its white, flaky flesh has soared in the past decade, driven largely by Japan and the United States.

Prices for the fish, which can grow up to 2.2m long, are up to $US23.50 ($39.85) a kilo.

Valuable toothfish:

Conservationists say illegal fishing threatens the valuable stocks of Patagonian toothfish in Antarctic waters. The toothfish is caught for consumers in Japan, North America and the European Union.

The toothfish grows slowly and to more than 2m long. It lives up to 50 years and does not breed until it is at least 10 years old. It lives in deep waters (from 300 to 3500m down).

The Australian Government has welcomed offers of assistance from a number of

countries, including South Africa, for the hot pursuit of the suspected illegal

fishing boat Viarsa.

Fisheries Minister, Senator Ian Macdonald, said the offers were further proof of

the international support building behind efforts to get the Viarsa to accompany

our patrol vessel to an Australian port.

"This is not the first time that Australia has united with other countries to

tackle the problem of alleged Patagonian toothfish poaching," Senator Macdonald

said.

"In 2001, South Africa helped Australian authorities to apprehend the South

Tomi, another illegal fishing vessel detected in our sub-Antarctic fishing

grounds."

Senator Macdonald said Australia was now working both diplomatically and on

enforcement options with South Africa and a number of other countries to develop

ways of putting further pressure on the Viarsa's owners to comply with

Australia's request that the vessel proceed to a suitable port.

Dr Sharman Stone, Parliamentary Secretary responsible for Australian Antarctic

Division, said that South Africa was particularly sensitive to illegal fishing

for Toothfish.

"Their own fisheries were driven close to commercial extinction just a few years

ago when relentlessly targeted by poachers.

"South Africa, like Australia is anxious to see the Commission for the

Conservation of Antarctic Marine Living Resources (CCAMLR) become a more

effective vehicle for protecting Antarctic species. The next meeting of CCAMLR

in October will be critical," Dr Stone said.

Justice and Customs Minister Senator Chris Ellison said South Africa's

willingness to help Australia sent a clear message that the international

community would work together to combat illegal fishing.

"By now, it should be pretty clear to the Viarsa that its best course of action

is to stop trying to outrun our patrol vessel and instead, comply with

Australian orders," Senator Ellison said.

Senator Ellison said Australia's Customs and Fisheries patrol vessel, the

Southern Supporter, had now been in pursuit of the Viarsa in the dangerous

waters of the Southern Ocean for 12 days.

"Since that time, the two boats have travelled more than 1,800 nautical miles

south west from where the pursuit first began inside the Australian Fishing Zone

around Heard Island and McDonald Islands," Senator Ellison said.

"Latest reports received back from the Southern Supporter, which is 1,200

nautical miles due south of Cape Town, confirm that the weather and sea

conditions continue to be icy cold and difficult. However, we remain committed

to pursuing the Viarsa."