OPERATION ICEFISH UPDATE DAY 103

by Capt Paul Watson

 

The epic chase of the THUNDER by the BOB BARKER and the SAM SIMON continues with all three ships almost 1,000 nautical miles off the coast of Nigeria in the South Atlantic Ocean.

With the poaching vessel KUNLUN in custody in Thailand, a third poacher the VIKING has now been arrested in Malaysia. The Nigerian flagged vessel is being detained in Tanjung Sedili, Malaysia on charges of illegal entry.

There are 18 crew onboard, 1 Chilean, 2 Peruvian and 15 Indonesian. Sea Shepherd has asked that the VIKING be investigated for human rights abuses. The VIKING also had a recent a name change. The vessel was previously called the SNAKE.
Operation Icefish has been the longest continuous Sea Shepherd campaign in both duration and in distances covered. Most importantly it has been successful.
Illegal fishing in the Southern Ocean has been exposed internationally. Interpol is taking action to stop the ships that have been found fishing illegally. 72 kilometers of nets have been confiscated from the THUNDER. The cargo of 182 tons of toothfish from the KUNLUN has been impounded. The authorities throughout Southeast Asia are on the look out for the other operating poaching vessels the YONGDING, SONGUA and PERLON. The Spanish police are taking action against the fish companies in Spain. For the KUNLUN and the THUNDER, they have lost their profits for the season and have incurred debts for their costs.
Not since 2003 has there been such activity in opposing the poachers of the Southern Ocean. Enthusiasm died back then when the Uruguayan poacher VIRASA I was found not guilty on technicalities after what was then the longest pursuit on the high seas, the 21-day chase by the Australian customs ship SOUTHERN SUPPORTER.
The VIKING is one of the Bandit Six that includes the THUNDER, KUNLUN, SONGHUA, YONGDING and PERLON.
Constantly changing names and flags, these vessels have plundered the Southern Ocean for millions of dollars of Toothfish, a product that is smuggled into countries around the world and sold in high end restaurants as Chilean Sea Bass, Mero, Icefish or Antarctic cod. As the numbers decline in the sea, demand rises in the market place causing prices to rise fueling more investment to catch these valuable fish. There is a legal toothfish industry that is well regulated but this regulation is undermined by the unrestricted poaching operations by these pirate-fishing operations.

http://www.maritime-executive.com/…/poaching-vessel-master-…

A Historic Year for Whale Conservation Efforts

The first time in over 100 years that not a single whale has been slaughtered in the Southern Ocean and the first time in 30 years that not a single whale was slaughtered by Japan's bogus scientific research program. For the first time since 1987, the internationally established Southern Ocean Whale Sanctuary has actually been recognized as a sanctuary for whales.

www.japantimes.co.jp/news/2015/03/28/national/japanese-whaling-ships-return-home-from-antarctic-with-no-catch/#.VRdHt-Fn1-x

The World’s Biggest Marine Reserve Was Just Created in the Pacific Ocean

Congratulations to the National Geographic Society and Pew Charitable Trusts through their Pristine Sea Project for the creation of the world's largest single protected area around the Pitcairn Islands in the South Pacific, protecting 322,138 square miles of some of the most virgin ocean habitat on the planet. Keep up the good work.

 

http://www.care2.com/causes/the-worlds-biggest-marine-reserve-was-just-created-in-the-pacific-ocean.html

Why We Should Celebrate Wetlands on World Water Day

World Water Day is a special day we should celebrate. We should all become aware of the importance of wetlands as part of our water systems, bird and fish life. Help your local wetlands.

http://www.care2.com/greenliving/why-we-should-celebrate-wetlands-on-world-water-day.html

World losing wildlife poaching war

Come on world, we need to stop poaching!  Inject all rhino horns with poison or something!

The cultures that use these potions need to step up too.

http://www.nzherald.co.nz/world/news/article.cfm?c_id=2&objectid=11421441

Operation Icefish Update

 

by Captain Paul Watson

Captain Peter Hammarstedt and his international crew of volunteers have been at sea now for 108 continuous days. And today marks the 93rd day of the pursuit of the Nigerian flagged, Spanish owned Antarctic toothfish poacher THUNDER by the BOB BARKER.

The chase that began off the Banzare Coast of Antarctica crossed the Indian Ocean into the South Atlantic and now both ships are in the Gulf of Guinea off the coast of Angola on a course of 344 True at 8.3 knots. The 0600 (UTC) position was 16 Degrees, 38 minutes South and 005 Degrees, 37 Minutes East.

Wherever the poachers go, Sea Shepherd intends to follow to prevent them doing a name and flag change. This is the longest pursuit of a poaching vessel in maritime history.

Meanwhile the KUNLUN continues to be detained in Phuket, Thailand after changing their name to TAISHAN and switching their flag from Equatorial Guinea to Indonesia.

They offloaded their cargo of 180 tons of Toothfish with a false declaration and had it shipped to Vietnam. Thai authorities are saying they have demanded the return of the cargo and may place it back onboard the TAISHAN and order them to leave port.

Officials from the Spanish fishing company Vidal Armadores arrived in Phuket and apparently are working to get lift the detainment of the ship and crew prior to the arrival of inspectors from Interpol, Australia and New Zealand.

Will the poachers avoid prosecution? The possibility is that they will, considering that the money behind these illegal fishing operations rivals that of illegal drugs and guns.

But as the drama in Phuket plays out the high seas chase continues in the South Atlantic some 1,000 miles south of the Equator as both the THUNDER and the BOB BARKER continue to head north.

http://www.voanews.com/…/notorious-poaching-sh…/2686766.

Two West Coast Marine Sanctuaries More Than Doubled in Size

Well done West Coast, USA!

http://www.care2.com/causes/two-west-coast-marine-sanctuaries-more-than-doubled-in-size.html