Palau Marine Seizes Largest Fishing Vessel & OAG Charges Illegal Fishing, Forfeiture
(PACIFIC NOTE) - Palau Gov't Seeks Fishing Vessel Forfeiture
December 4, 2016 - Bernadette H. Carreon
The Palau government filed on Dec. 2 a civil action suit against the owner of seized Philippine fishing vessel suspected of conducting illegal fishing in the nation's waters. Civil Action No. 16-112 seeks forfeiture of vessel Gene 8, with the government also asking the court to order the vessel to pay a fine for illegally fishing in Palau waters.
Palau seeks court order to take the fishing vessel found within its waters on Nov.18. “The listed property is subject to forfeiture as being used in illegal fishing activity specifically fishing in Palau’s territorial waters without a license,” the court document stated.
The Palau National Marine Sanctuary (PNMS) office in a press statement said that the capture of the vessel is another example of the overwhelming need to increase the protection of Palau's EEZ against the ever-growing threat of Illegal, Unreported and Unregulated fishing in our waters. “
According to the Fisheries Forum Agency (FFA) Pacific nations lose around $152 million in revenue from IUU. “Not only is illegal fishing stealing financial resources from Palau but it threatens our food security as well. The Palau National Marine Sanctuary Act is a way to effectively combat these illegal acts,” the statement further added.
The PNMS said that the 135.32 tonnage vessel was 36.29 Meters and determined to be a "Fish Carrier" vessel. Fish carriers are smaller than "Mother Ships" otherwise known as "Factory Ships" which can be up to 240 tonnes but serve the same purpose of collecting fish from smaller fishing vessels and transporting them to port. On November 18, PSS Remeliik stopped and boarded the foreign fishing vessel found in Palau’s EEZ.
The boat owner retained a lawyer in Palau to settle the matter but a settlement was not reached. It was learned that the boat owner claimed that the vessel was not fishing in Palau’s EEZ but was in the nation’s waters because the boat suffered an engine trouble.
The PNMS press statement added that it has been largest vessel that Palau's Division of Marine Law has captured thus far.
http://www.pacificnote.com/single-post/2016/12/05/Palau-Govt-Seeks-Fishing-Vessel-Forfeiture
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Palau Marine Law Seizes Suspected Illegal ‘Mother Ship’
December 1, 2016
Bernadette H. Carreon
Palau’s PSS Remeliik marine law officers seized a suspected Philippine illegal fishing vessel that is believed to be “a mother ship.”
Acting Attorney General Evan Robbins told Pacific Note that on Nov. 16, the patrol boat went to conduct its regular sea patrol from east to south of Palau’s exclusive economic zone. The vessel Gene No.8, was found 45 miles North West of Helen Reef two days later.
Suspected illegal "mother ship" escorted back to the Marine Law in Koror for further investigation. “Upon approaching the very same vessel, it was noticed to be moored to a fishing aggregation device numbered 822. At around 0245 hours on the same day, the very same contact was boarded and inspected. There was no valid Palau fishing permit on board,” according to preliminary investigation.
Upon inspection, the marine law officers found at least 30 tons of fish onboard. The ship’s master was also unable to produce a catch log. The fish on board were tuna, rainbow runners and other small fish named kolongo. The ship’s master also claimed the catch onboard were caught in international waters.
The five Filipino crewmembers were detained at the marine law office and some of the catch were sold and some were given away, according to AAG Robbins. Robbins said the boat owner has retained a lawyer in Palau to resolve the case. “We are in the early stages of evaluating the case and negotiating with the owner on the path forward for resolution,” Robbins said.
Palau illegal fishing law imposes a minimum fine of $500,000.
Meanwhile, according to one marine law officer, the role of vessel is to collect fish from purse seiners and not long-liners. The vessel can also potentially hold 120 tons of fish.
Remeliik is part of the Australian funded pacific patrol boat program. By 2019 , Australia will replace the Remeliik with a brand new, larger and more capable patrol boat under the Pacific Maritime Security Programme.
http://www.pacificnote.com/single-post/2016/12/01/Palau-Marine-Law-Seizes-Suspected-Illegal-%E2%80%98Mother-Ship%E2%80%99
December 4, 2016 - Bernadette H. Carreon
The Palau government filed on Dec. 2 a civil action suit against the owner of seized Philippine fishing vessel suspected of conducting illegal fishing in the nation's waters. Civil Action No. 16-112 seeks forfeiture of vessel Gene 8, with the government also asking the court to order the vessel to pay a fine for illegally fishing in Palau waters.
Palau seeks court order to take the fishing vessel found within its waters on Nov.18. “The listed property is subject to forfeiture as being used in illegal fishing activity specifically fishing in Palau’s territorial waters without a license,” the court document stated.
The Palau National Marine Sanctuary (PNMS) office in a press statement said that the capture of the vessel is another example of the overwhelming need to increase the protection of Palau's EEZ against the ever-growing threat of Illegal, Unreported and Unregulated fishing in our waters. “
According to the Fisheries Forum Agency (FFA) Pacific nations lose around $152 million in revenue from IUU. “Not only is illegal fishing stealing financial resources from Palau but it threatens our food security as well. The Palau National Marine Sanctuary Act is a way to effectively combat these illegal acts,” the statement further added.
The PNMS said that the 135.32 tonnage vessel was 36.29 Meters and determined to be a "Fish Carrier" vessel. Fish carriers are smaller than "Mother Ships" otherwise known as "Factory Ships" which can be up to 240 tonnes but serve the same purpose of collecting fish from smaller fishing vessels and transporting them to port. On November 18, PSS Remeliik stopped and boarded the foreign fishing vessel found in Palau’s EEZ.
The boat owner retained a lawyer in Palau to settle the matter but a settlement was not reached. It was learned that the boat owner claimed that the vessel was not fishing in Palau’s EEZ but was in the nation’s waters because the boat suffered an engine trouble.
The PNMS press statement added that it has been largest vessel that Palau's Division of Marine Law has captured thus far.
http://www.pacificnote.com/single-post/2016/12/05/Palau-Govt-Seeks-Fishing-Vessel-Forfeiture
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Palau Marine Law Seizes Suspected Illegal ‘Mother Ship’
December 1, 2016
Bernadette H. Carreon
Palau’s PSS Remeliik marine law officers seized a suspected Philippine illegal fishing vessel that is believed to be “a mother ship.”
Acting Attorney General Evan Robbins told Pacific Note that on Nov. 16, the patrol boat went to conduct its regular sea patrol from east to south of Palau’s exclusive economic zone. The vessel Gene No.8, was found 45 miles North West of Helen Reef two days later.
Suspected illegal "mother ship" escorted back to the Marine Law in Koror for further investigation. “Upon approaching the very same vessel, it was noticed to be moored to a fishing aggregation device numbered 822. At around 0245 hours on the same day, the very same contact was boarded and inspected. There was no valid Palau fishing permit on board,” according to preliminary investigation.
Upon inspection, the marine law officers found at least 30 tons of fish onboard. The ship’s master was also unable to produce a catch log. The fish on board were tuna, rainbow runners and other small fish named kolongo. The ship’s master also claimed the catch onboard were caught in international waters.
The five Filipino crewmembers were detained at the marine law office and some of the catch were sold and some were given away, according to AAG Robbins. Robbins said the boat owner has retained a lawyer in Palau to resolve the case. “We are in the early stages of evaluating the case and negotiating with the owner on the path forward for resolution,” Robbins said.
Palau illegal fishing law imposes a minimum fine of $500,000.
Meanwhile, according to one marine law officer, the role of vessel is to collect fish from purse seiners and not long-liners. The vessel can also potentially hold 120 tons of fish.
Remeliik is part of the Australian funded pacific patrol boat program. By 2019 , Australia will replace the Remeliik with a brand new, larger and more capable patrol boat under the Pacific Maritime Security Programme.
http://www.pacificnote.com/single-post/2016/12/01/Palau-Marine-Law-Seizes-Suspected-Illegal-%E2%80%98Mother-Ship%E2%80%99