Toothfish spark high seas pursuit

CANBERRA, Australia (Reuters) — Australia sought international help on Monday to halt a Uruguayan ship suspected of poaching a rare, protected fish following an 11-day-old chase across rough sub-Antarctic seas. Australia’s fisheries patrol ship, Southern Supporter, has been pursuing the fishing vessel Viarsa since August 7, when it was first spotted in the Heard and McDonald island fisheries zone, 2,200 nautical miles (4,000 km) southwest of Australia. But with the chase continuing, Australia sought help from South Africa and several other nations to stop the boat with a suspected catch of Patagonian Toothfish, a sought-after delicacy found in Australia’s Southern Ocean waters near Antarctica.

Bron: , 19-08-2003;