The “Bob Barker” has been in pursuit of the Nigerian-flagged, Spanish-owned toothfish poacher “Thunder” now for 57 days.
The pursuit which began on December 16th last year on the Banzare Bank off the coast of Antarctica is now 900 nautical miles south of Madagascar and going no where as the “Thunder” attempts to wait out the “Bob Barker.”
With the Sea Shepherd ship and crew tailing them, the “Thunder” cannot sneak quietly into any port to avoid being detained for illegal fishing. The “Thunder” is listed on the Interpol Purple List.
Sea Shepherd is confident that the “Bob Barker” will be able to wait out the “Thunder”.
It is a siege now in it’s 57th day. How long will it last? There is no way to say but the “Bob Barker” carries more fuel and food than the “Thunder” and the Sea Shepherd crew are motivated whereas the “Thunder” crew have lost their profits for the season and they have lost their nets plus they are facing arrest and possible confiscation of their ship should it enter any port where the Sea Shepherd can notify the authorities of their arrival.
The “Sam Simon” has 72 kilometres of gill net confiscated from the “Thunder”.
The chase is focusing attention on the Spanish owners of the “Thunder” and the other toothfish poachers. It is focusing attention on the fact that these poachers receive subsidies from the European Union. It is focusing attention on the fact that although these poachers are listed as wanted by Interpol, the nations of the world are showing very little interest in actually stopping them.
Sea Shepherd is doing the job of the world’s governments without any tax dollars to back us up. It is the support of compassionate and concerned people around the world that is making these campaigns both possible and successful.
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