Tristan : TRISTAN OFFICIALS BOARD SUSPECTED POACHER
Submitted by Tristan Times (Sarah Glass) 15.05.2007 (Article Archived on 29.05.2007)
Tristan Officials have boarded a Taiwanese Jigger that was acting suspiciously near the Island.
Photo (c) James Glass (Tristan Times) Chi Jing No 3 acting suspiciously
Suspected Poacher
On Queens Day - Saturday 31st March 07, the community was celebrating Queens Day on the field in front of the School, when a vessel was sighted off Big Point to the East of the settlement. She appeared to be steaming at about 10 knots, then slowed down and started acting superstitious.
It was then decided by the Head of ANRD that the Fishery Patrol Boat should go out and inspect the vessel, by this time she was inline with the settlement.
5:15pm and departed the harbour shortly after. The Fishery Patrol Boat intercepted the vessel, 5.2 miles NW west of Tristan about 10 minutes later.
The vessel was instructed to stop and was boarded by Sea Fishery Officers Warren and James Glass along with crewmember Trevor Glass, whilst coxswain Joe Green, and crew Nigel and Ian accompanied by myself remain on the Patrol Boat.
The vessel was a Jigger 875.17mt called Chi Jing No 3, call sign BI2266, Registration CT7-0266 with a Taiwanese Crew of 30, plus a dog. Chieh Sun Fishery Co, Ltd owned the vessel. The captain reported that he was heading for Argentine waters to fish down the Patagonian shelf, although may apply for a licence in the Falkland Islands. The freezer holds, and plate freezers were checked and found to be empty, it was clearly seen that the vessel was not ready for fishing, as the crew were busy working on deck, the drums were not fitted on the shafts of the jigging machines, the sea anchor was secure, and no working deck lights or those to attract the squid were fitted.
Only one person spoke any English, that was a Filipino and he helped us with information. A while was spent looking through the Captains logbook, before recording the necessary details and returning back to the settlement.
Sarah Glass
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