Fish Pirates Will Be Shot, Says Australia

The Telegraph (UK) ^ | 12-7-2006 | Nick Squires

[blam]

Fish pirates will be shot, says Australia

By Nick Squires
Last Updated: 2:37am GMT 07/12/2006

The Royal Australian Navy has been given permission to shoot at pirate fishing boats plundering the country's rich tropical waters.

Warships and customs patrol boats operating off Australia's north coast have captured a record 357 illegal fishing boats this year, most of them Indonesian vessels hunting sharks for their fins. "Our patrol boats will be allowed to fire directly to disable a vessel which is ignoring orders and which is seeking to escape apprehension," said Brendan Nelson, the defence minister. "It is extremely important that anybody who comes to this country seeking to steal our fish and breach our sovereignty knows they will be met with a very strong, disciplined Australian navy," he said. Sailors would also be authorised to use tear gas and pepper spray, he added.

The tough rules have been introduced in response to increasing violence from illegal fishing crews. Australian naval boarding parties have been confronted by knives, machetes and sharpened bamboo poles.

An armada of pirate fishing boats are poaching sharks, reef fish and other species in a swathe of Australian territorial waters from Queensland to Western Australia. Smaller vessels are backed up by larger "ice boats", mother ships equipped with freezer holds, high-definition radar and echo sounders. The scale of poaching has increased as Indonesian waters suffer from overfishing.

[Paleo Conservative]

I'm somewhat old fashioned. I think they should have to walk the plank.

[SteveMcKing]

Shame the principle of defensive violence should apply so narrowly.

Glad those fish are safe, however. Seriously.

[Mike Darancette]

More Chum!

[Screamname]

Are these the ones who use the fins for problems with the Johnson?

[dynachrome]

Arrrrrrr. Shiver me sardines. What's a poor pirate to do?

[Arizona Carolyn]

Good for them.. I think we could use a little more Aussie moxie over here.

[MindBender26]

Not used for the one-eyed wonder worm but the taste buds. Shark fin soup is a delicacy in Japan. I think it tastes like salt water and soap.

[SandRat]

Man that's some Tough Rangers/Game Wardens.

[MindBender26]

Jolly good. A .50 cal though the engine block, or chest can ruin a pirate's entire afternoon.

[gaijin]

[StormEye]

"Our patrol boats will be allowed to fire directly to disable a vessel which is ignoring orders and which is seeking to escape apprehension," said Brendan "

How about shoot to sink the raiders. Forget the "disable" nonsense. One less pirate boat to deal with.

[StormEye]

"Our patrol boats will be allowed to fire directly to disable a vessel which is ignoring orders and which is seeking to escape apprehension," said Brendan "

How about shoot to sink the raiders. Forget the "disable" nonsense. One less pirate boat to deal with.

[gaijin]

[BallyBill]

If you just sink them, you can't plunder the loot on board.

[Hank Kerchief]

This is disgusting. "Pirate fishing boats?" So, who are the pirates here? "Australian naval boarding parties have been confronted by knives, machetes and sharpened bamboo poles." The peaceful owners of fishing boats defend themselves against, "boarding parties," and they are called the pirates? Sorry, the pirates are the government thugs who initiate the force.

Hank

[sergeantdave]

So how do you blokes feel about fishing for walleyes and shooting hippies?

[Solitar]

Oh, oh. 85% of Indonesians are Muslims. If these pirates are also Muslims, we can expect the "Religion of Peace" to be firing back at Australians -- righteous indignation followed by terrorist attacks.

[monkapotamus]

[Axenolith]

That might carry some water if they were Australian fishermen but they're Indonesian fishermen dude; invaders, violators of national sovereignity...