Australia frees Uruguay official from seized boat ( 2003-09-12 13:52) (Agencies)
Australia has released a
Uruguayan government official who was on board a trawler seized on suspicion of
poaching the rare Patagonian Toothfish from Australian waters to avoid any
escalation in a diplomatic row.
Fisheries Minister Ian Macdonald said Australia had finally agreed to a
request from Uruguay to release the scientific observer from the
Uruguayan-flagged Viarsa that was caught after a dramatic 21-day high seas
chase.
But the official was only allowed to leave the Viarsa, which is being
escorted back to Australia to face possible charges of illegal fishing, on the
condition an Australian official accompany him to Montevideo and sit in on
questioning there.
"The Australian government has received written assurances from the Uruguayan
foreign minister that the observer will be available in Australia to assist with
investigations and would cooperate fully with Australian authorities," Macdonald
said in a statement released late on Thursday.
The Viarsa was seized 16 days ago in the Southern Ocean, stormed by armed
South African and Australian fisheries officers, after a 3,900-nautical mile
chase dodging icebergs and battered by 33 foot waves in freezing, Antarctic
seas.
The scientific observer was on board to monitor the trawler's activities and
Australia did not want to release him while investigations were underway,
sparking protests from Uruguay.
Australian customs officials say the boat was carrying 85 tonnes of the rare
and protected Patagonian Toothfish, also known as Chilean sea bass, which is a
highly desired and costly delicacy, particularly in Asia and the United States.
Dubbed "white gold" by fishermen, one shipload of the fish, which can grow to
7 feet long and weigh 220 pounds, can be worth about $3.3 million.
The Viarsa is due to dock in Australia early next month where its 40-member
crew could face prosecution for illegal fishing, which carries fines of up to
$362,000, and for fleeing Australian authorities, which could lead to a year in
jail.
