The Coalition of Legal Toothfish
Operators (COLTO) today called on the Uruguayan Government to assist
Australian authorities in apprehending an alleged illegal toothfish
fishing boat, the Viarsa. The toothfish longline boat, the Viarsa, is
being pursued by an Australian government fisheries patrol vessel, which
allegedly sighted the Viarsa fishing illegally for toothfish inside
Australian and CCAMLR waters late last week.
COLTO spokesman Tim Reddell from South
Africa today welcomed the positive actions being taken by Australia to
deter illegal toothfish fishing from its Exclusive Economic Zone around
Heard Island, and underscored the level of problem that legal toothfish
operators face in trying to eliminate illegal fishing operations.
"Illegal fishing for toothfish in areas
under international management and jurisdiction has been estimated to be
stealing as much as 20,000 tonnes of toothfish per year.
“This is nearly the same quantity of fish
being caught legally, under the strictest management and environmental
regimes for fisheries in the world", Mr. Reddell said. "We are hopeful
that the Uruguayan Government can rapidly and comprehensively support
Australian authorities by ordering the Viarsa to return to the port of
Fremantle, Western Australia, under escort of the Australian fisheries
patrol vessel, for further investigations".
Mr. Reddell offered the full support of
COLTO to both the Uruguayan and Australian Governments to help track down
and prosecute the illegal operators involved in illegal fishing of
toothfish.
"COLTO has photos of the Viarsa on its
website at www.colto.org and is prepared to assist Governments and CCAMLR
in any way possible to bring any toothfish pirates to justice” Mr. Reddell
said.
COLTO will continue to monitor the
situation, and maintain updates on its website.
