WA: Suspect fishing vessel arrives in Fremantle

AAP General News (Australia)
02-01-2004
WA: Suspect fishing vessel arrives in Fremantle

A Urugayan boat caught fishing illegally in Australian waters last week has been escorted
into Fremantle harbour by customs officials and the Royal Australian Navy.

Early investigations show the Maya V held more than 150 tonnes of rare Patagonian toothfish
-- worth more than $2 million.

The catch was poached from the Antarctic seas, 4,000 km southwest of Perth.

Federal Fisheries Minister IAN MACDONALD says no charges have yet been laid against
the Uruguayan captain or any of his 40 crew members from Chile, Spain and South America.

But he says charges are likely over the next few weeks.





Fellow Uruguayan illegal fishing vessel Viarsa, which was escorted into Fremantle last
October after being captured in the South Atlantic ocean following a 21-day pursuit, had
on board 90 tonnes of the protected fish.

AAP RTV ajm +

KEYWORD: TOOTHFISH (PERTH)

2004 AAP Information Services Pty Limited (AAP) or its Licensors.