Viarsa (2003-2005)

  • International Consortium of Investigative Journalists – 2 October 2011 – A fascinating piece capturing the details of one of the world’s most controversial fishing operations – a family-controlled company in northwestern Spain, Vidal Armadores, linked to more than 40 cases of alleged illegal fishing. 
  • AAP General News, 6 November 2005 – Fed govt should give Viarsa back, says lawyer for captain
    “The federal government should hand back the impounded Uruguayan vessel Viarsa 1 after its captain and crew were found not guilty of illegal fishing, the captain’s lawyer says.”…
  • Asia Africa Intelligence Wire, 7 November 2005 – Viarsa captain praises justice system
    “For fishing boat captain Ricardo Mario Ribot Cabrera the world’s longest sea chase may have been his final voyage. But he’s far from bitter about the two-year illegal fishing case which has stranded him in Australia for the past two years. The 58-year-old Uruguayan and his four shipmates were cleared on Friday of poaching Australian fish stocks, ending a two-year legal battle that cost the Australian government millions of dollars.”…
  • MercoPress, Uruguay, 18 May 2004 – Chilean Fisherman Free to Return Home
  • “A third application to the Supreme Court of Western Australia has seen a Chilean fisherman arrested aboard the Viarsa I allowed to return home before he faces trial in October.”…
  • MercoPress, Uruguay, 21 April 2004 – Viarsa 1 Officers Launch New Bid to Leave Australia
    …Mr Laskaris said Navalmar considered it had invested time and money in the defense of the men, and bail of $AUD 20,000, and gave the first indication that Navalmar was sticking to its guns regarding how much pull Australian law could have against International law for offences committed inside an Exclusive Economic Zone…
  • MercoPress, Uruguay, February 25, 2004 – “Viarsa 1 Owners Sue Australian Government”
    Owners of the Viarsa 1 have alleged the boarding of their ship was unlawful…
  • MercoPress, Uruguay, December 19, 2003 – “Viarsa trial postponed”
  • Media Release – Australian Toothfish Industry, November 27, 2003 – “New Government plans to deter Toothfish Terrorists welcomed by Australian Industry”
  • ABC Online, Australia, November 26, 2003 – “Tough new penalties for illegal fishing operations”
  • The Age, Australia, November 24, 2003 – “France, Australia friends again”
  • ABC Online – 7:30 Report, Australia, November 17, 2003 – “Fishing crews do battle with toothfish pirates”
  • MercoPress, Uruguay, November 4, 2003 – “Viarsa crew must stay in Australia, says magistrate”
  • TerraDaily, October 28, 2003 – “Australia hails Indonesia’s presence at Antarctic fishing forum”
  • SARTMA.com, South Atlantic Remote Territories, October 12, 2003 – “Viarsa1: 5 Crew Charged and Bailed”
  • The details on the Viarsa crew’s court appearance in Perth Magistrates Court, Perth, Australia, 10 October, 2003
  • Australian Fisheries Management Authority -Media Release, 10 October, 2003 – “Five charged with illegal fishing in Australia’s sub-Antarctic waters”
  • Ministerial Media Release, 10 October, 2003 – “Viarsa crewmembers charged”
  • The Age, Australia, 10 October, 2003 – “Five on Viarsa charged over toothfish”
  • MercoPress, Uruguay, 5 October, 2003 – “Uruguay’s toothfish quota at risk”
  • COLTO Media Release, 2 October, 2003 – “COLTO offers assistance and information to Uruguayan Government Inquiry on toothfish pirate pursuit of Viarsa1”
  • MercoPress, Uruguay, South Atlantic’s News Agency, 1 October, 2003 – “”Viarsa1” is not a “pirate vessel””
  • MercoPress, Uruguay, South Atlantic’s News Agency, 26 September, 2003 – “COLTO is a Commonwealth organization”
  • MercoPress, Uruguay, South Atlantic’s News Agency, 14 September, 2003 – “”Viarsa1″ scientist in Montevideo”
  • MercoPress, South Atlantic’s News Agency, 11 September, 2003 – “Australia releases Viarsa1 observer”
  • SARTMA.com, 5 September, 2003 – “Landfall – Southern Supporter and Poacher Reach Cape Town”
  • MercoPress, South Atlantic’s News Agency, 4 September, 2003 – “”Viarsa 1″ : Congressional Hearing”
  • WWF-SA, South Africa, 1 September, 2003 – “WWF-SA lauds South Africa’s role in the seizure of the Viarsa”
  • The Age, Australia, 31 August, 2003 – “Fish officer among crew on Viarsa”
  • USA Today, 30 August, 2003 – “Australians nab suspected illegal fishing boat after 4,000-mile chase”
  • COLTO Media Release, 28 August, 2003 – “High Praise for Governments in Toothfish Wars”
  • Joint Ministerial Media Release (Australia), August 28, 2003 – “Viarsa is boarded”
  • Merco Press, South Atlantic’s News Agency, August 28, 2003 – “Viarsa 1 detained and escorted to South Africa”
  • ABC Online, August 28, 2003 – “21 Day Viarsa Chase Ends”
  • SARTMA.com, August 28, 2003 – “Viarsa1 – The Epic Chase Ends”
  • SARTMA, August 27, 2003 – “Australia Has Prima Facie Case Against VIARSA1”
  • Ministerial Media Release (Australia), August 27, 2003 – “High Farce on the High Seas”
  • Joint Ministerial Media Release (Australia), August 27, 2003 – “Is there a Uruguayan Government official on board Viarsa?”
  • SARTMA, August 27, 2003 – “Caught in the Net”
  • Merco Press, South Atlantic’s News Agency, August 27, 2003 – “Viarsa 1 is close to capture”
  • COLTO Media Release, August 14, 2003 – “Was the Uruguayan Government Tricked? COLTO alleges toothfish pirates falsify satellite vessel monitoring position data”
  • COLTO Comunicado de Prensa, 14/08/2003 – “¿El gobierno uruguayo engañado? COLTO alega que los piratas del “toothfish” falsifican los datos del control satelital de posicionamiento de un pesquero”
  • Joint Ministerial Media Release (Australia), August 13, 2003 – “Hot pursuit of fishing vessel continues as Australia renews call for Uruguay to cooperate”
  • COLTO Media Release, August 12, 2003 – “COLTO seeks support of Uruguayan Government to halt flight of suspected illegal toothfish boat”
  • COLTO Comunicado de Prensa, 12/08/2003 – “COLTO solicita el apoyo del gobierno uruguayo para impedir la fuga de un pesquero del bacalao de profundidad (“toothfish”) que estaría operando en forma ilegal”
  • Joint Ministerial Media Release (Australia), August 12, 2003 – “Australian patrol in pursuit of suspected illegal fishing vessel in sub-Antarctic waters”