Malaysia detains notorious ‘Viking’ poaching vessel

[yuiyoshida]

Source: AsianCorrispondent.com



Another major blow has been dealt to illegal fishing in the Southern Ocean with the detention of the Nigerian-flagged poaching vessel, Viking, in Malaysia – bringing a total of three notorious illegal fishing vessels and their crew in for interrogation this fishing season. Nigerian-flagged the Thunder was de-registered last week making it officially stateless. Kunlun, meanwhile, is in Thailand’s detention.

Held for violations of Malaysian maritime law, Malaysian authorities have indicated that the Viking will also be investigated for alleged illegal, unregulated, unreported (IUU) fishing violations.



The vessel was detained with 18 crew on board; one Chilean, two Peruvian and 15 Indonesian citizens. The captain of the vessel, whose nationality is unknown, has been arrested.

The Viking is one of the six remaining illegal, unregulated, unreported (IUU) fishing vessels – which Sea Shepherd calls the “Bandit 6” – that are known to target vulnerable toothfish in the waters surrounding Antarctica, and is the second vessel of the six that has been detained by authorities this month.

Read more: http://asiancorrespondent.com/131730/malaysia-detains-notorious-viking-poaching-vessel/

[dembotoz]

1. k and r

[greatlaurel]

2. Good for Malaysia for detaining this vessel.

The sooner these vessels are removed from the oceans the better for us all.

[eppur_se_muova]

3. Huge kudos for this ! And a book rec ...

to learn more about overfishing, and particularly the Antarctic toothfish, check out this excellent read: http://www.gbruceknecht.com/books/hooked-pirates-poaching-and-the-perfect-fish/

If you've ever eaten "Chilean Sea Bass", you should know it was probably either Antarctic or Patagonian toothfish, rebranded to sound more appetizing. The Patagonian stocks are (last I heard) "commercially extinct", meaning there are no longer any schools large enough to reward commercial fishing. With the Patagonian stocks diminished, fishing boats moved to Antarctic waters and began decimating the Antarctic toothfish.

[cosmicone]

4. They should tow it to deep waters and sink it so it can't be used again. n/t

[Sunlei]

5. Nowhere to hide anymore. satellite-based observation puts a big dent in illegal fishing vessels