You have seen the chase scene from blues brothers and OJ Simpson. But have you seen anything like this? [img]graemlins/wow.gif[/img]

After a 2000 nautical miles chase Australian customs and fisheries officers aboard the Southern Supporter had pursued the trawler Viarsa since August 7, after the vessel was found fishing illegally inside the Australian Fishing Zone off Heard Island and McDonald Islands. The chase crossed the most remote and dangerous of oceans, the iceberg infested southern ocean.


Armed officers from South Africa and Australia ended the epic chase of a trawler suspected of fishing illegally for the endangered Patagonian Toothfish and is being escorted back to Australia after a three-week chase!

The crew of 40 on the Uruguayan fishing boat offered no resistance when Australian and South African fisheries officers boarded the vessel 3,000 kilometres southwest of Cape Town.

The crew face possible jail sentences and heavy fines of up to $550,000 (US$357,500). The Australians say the toothfish allegedly caught by the trawler could be worth $2 million on the black market.

Australia's justice minister Chris Ellison said the arrests sent a message that Australia was "determined to crack down" on anyone tempted to fish illegally in its waters.


http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/world/asi...ic/3186653.stm

Anyone else want to try stealing our fish? [img]graemlins/hehe.gif[/img]

Note last year an Australian navy ship caught a similar ship after a weeks chase by using helicopters and dropping SAS troops on board to seize control and confiscate the ship [img]tongue.gif[/img]

[ 08-28-2003, 09:45 AM: Message edited by: wellard ]

<font face="Verdana" size="3" color="#00FF00"> Yes, Brian Tobin (former premier of Newfoundland) had Canadian Destroyers go after Spanish fishing vessels. It wasn't a big chase because the destroyers just told them to stop or they would sink them. The buoyant premier than sailed the Spanish boats into New York Harbour and cut up all the Spanish nets in front of the UN while telling the UN and Spanish right were to go. The PM had to reel the angry and frustrated premier in to avoid embarrassment and starting a war with Spain or so the story goes . I guess since we no longer fish much in the waters, to try and replenish the stocks that we did not want Europeans who are willing to fish and fish till there is nothing left coming into our waters and I see his point.</font>

[ 08-28-2003, 10:33 AM: Message edited by: pritchke ]

What an amazing story. Three week chase?? Incredible. I hope the officers all get a holiday. [img]smile.gif[/img]

Then why the hell did Rex Hunt call me last week ? Is he trying to get me jailed or something ?

Damn Ozzie cheater, kisses the wahoo, but gets his fellow human beings behind bars. :D

Now if someone would just stop those damned Japanese from whaling and killing sea turtles. :mad:

As long as they stay in their own waters, they can't be touched, but when they go hunting outside that area, by all means, sink the landlubbers. I'm not really a Greenpeace man, but i've seen footage of their actions against Japanese whalers, and it's almost like real warfare. Gotta respect the Greenpeace dudes for taking such risks.

You know about rex hunt! :eek:

And timber, [img]graemlins/thumbsup.gif[/img] for maintaining the rage against the Japanese "experiments and scientific investigation" of whales .... Liars!

Rats! My diabolical scheme to steal Australian fish will have to be shelved. The risk is just too high...What are they gonna book the thieves for...grand theft fish?

Seriously.... Its good that some nations are taking the depletion of our ocean's bounty with seriousness. Hopefully other fish thieves will take note and be detered.

They'll probably be charged with improper lane change. The reason the chase lasted so long is that the trawler put it's left turn blinker on and then didn't turn left. That fake turn psyched out the Aussies. :D