Australian navy to shoot at fish poachers

[Barrett808]

CANBERRA (Reuters) - Australia's navy will be allowed to shoot at illegal fishing boats under tough new measures to deter poachers, Defence Minister Brendan Nelson said on Wednesday.

Nelson said he approved the new rules of engagement because poachers were taking more risks to avoid arrest by the navy, which has several patrol boats, a frigate and air force support hunting for illegal fishing boats.

The vast majority of illegal vessels come from neighbouring Indonesia.

"Our patrol boats will be allowed to fire directly to disable a vessel which is ignoring orders and which is seeking escape apprehension, and which is indeed threatening our navy and our people," Nelson told parliament.

(more)

http://www.alertnet.org/thenews/newsdesk/SYD317676.htm

We may hope the new rules of engagement will apply to Japanese poachers as they slaughter whales in the Antarctic Whale Sanctuary.

[flvegan]

1. We can surely hope that they'll take on the Japanese felons. Either way,

this is a great step forward for the Aussie interest in regards to poaching and protecting their waters.

Besides, even if the Austalian Navy won't, Sea Shepherd will. I mean seriously...2 boats under the command of a man like Capt. Watson. Oh, ye whalers. Be quick with your lifeboats and your survival suits.

Leviathan cometh...

[depakid]

2. As fisheries deplete, we're going to see more of this

And I agree with the poster above. No quarter for whaling vessels. Evacuate the crew and scuttle the vessel.

[PaganPreacher]

4. "Scuttle the vessel" = Oil spill

Think about it.


The Pagan preacher
i don't turn the other cheek.

[Lipton64]

3. But I don't agree with shooting at them....

Australian law is only so limited. It's similar to when Western naval ships stop drug trafficking on the high seas. While I personally am opposed obviously to the distribution of drugs, so as long as it isn't headed to the state of which the navy belongs in my opinion that navy has no legal right to seize or detain the "drug ship" If somebody's moving heroin from Iran to Africa I don't think it's the United States or any other Western power's business to interfere in said distribution as long as it occurs on international waters. I'm not sure on the laws regarding this but I recall a few years ago when a NATO-nation ship stopped a ship belonging to Yemen that was sending weaponry to N. Korea. Although obviously we're not on good terms with Mr. Kim Jong-Mentally Ill I think we don't have a right to interfere in their trade because no declaration of war exists.

The idea that we and other Western powers are the "policemen of the seas" just bothers me to no end. If drug transactions occur between 2 separate independent nations, it's none of the United States business to get involved.

[Barrett808]

5. Welcome to DU, Lipton!

:hi: