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Legal toothfish companies
in Australia have welcomed Australian and French government initiatives
announced this week in the ongoing battle against criminal syndicates
targeting and stealing the valuable species in the Australian and French
zones.
This
week Australia signed a new maritime treaty with the French setting a
framework for cooperative surveillance and research activity in their
respective territorial seas and exclusive economic zones in the Southern
Ocean.
The Federal Fisheries
Minister, Ian Macdonald, also announced government plans for new laws
which will see an increase in maximum fines for those caught fishing
illegally plus the ability to recover and include in any bond amount, the
cost of pursuit and apprehension of foreign fishing vessels.
“We are delighted that
Australia has taken these steps in its ongoing battle to protect this
remote and vulnerable Australian territory,” said Mr. David Carter, chief
executive of Austral Fisheries, one of the four Australian companies
licensed to fish in Australian waters some 4000 kilometres south-west of
Albany, Western Australia.
“Australia and France share
a long sea border with their adjacent Kerguelen and Heard Island
territories. These oceans are the jewel in the crown for toothfish
pirates, and any moves that allow us to forge closer links to stop the
criminals before they put us all out of business, decimate toothfish
stocks and kill thousands more endangered seabirds, is to be applauded.”
Fellow Australian operator
David Williams said he hoped the signing of the treaty and the new laws
would send a powerful message to the environmental vandals who continue to
plunder Australian fisheries, and destroy the unique Antarctic
environment.
“The legal toothfish
industry is committed to sustainable fisheries management practices and
preservation of the unique marine environment for future generations. So
any tools which can be adopted to protect our fisheries and sovereignty
are very welcome, and the Government is to be congratulated on its
proactive approach to this significant problem” Mr. Williams said.
Media Contacts
Jenny Hodder: +618 92020 2457 (mobile) 0412 005 400
David Williams: Managing Director HIMI Longline
Management 0405 169 308
Les Scott: Petuna Fisheries +613 6427 9033
Christian Pyke: Raptis +617 3249 7888 (m) 0411 595 920
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