Page 38 - IB MAY 2017

Oceans
Code Blue for our reefs: Using the regional

tuna MCS to nab the reef robbers

Reef pillaging by Vietnamese Blue Boats
seeking lucrative returns from beche de
mer harvesting is being picked up under
oceanic fisheries surveillance networks.
As FFA’s Director James Movick told Pa-
cific fisheries and legal officials at a joint
workshop with SPC on May 1 and 2, reef
pillaging is more than a blatant criminal
act, but has tragic environmental impacts.
The crimes against Pacific nations and
devastating impacts to reef species and
bio-diversity from Vietnamese Blue Boats
takes more than beche de mer from our
waters. These violations appear to be
escalating and spreading to more Pacific
nations as the boats deplete targeted spe-
cies in one area and move on to the next
reef, without regard for territorial borders Solomons maritime police seize a Vietnamese blue boat. Photo Supplied
and maritime boundaries. Moreover, the demarches with Vietnam need to be taken in time. Our nations are keen to address
illegal harvesting of valuable species such with firm collective resolve aimed at the and end the blatant criminal nature of Viet-
as beche de mer (BDM) essentially robs most appropriate levels in order to reach namese blue boat activity in our waters,
these economic opportunities from local appropriate decision makers and to carry and officials are well aware that actions
harvesters and their increased sale on the sufficient and broader weight so as to be must be shared to spread the load and get
market is likely to depress prices that legal taken more seriously. the best impact at the regional and the in-
harvesters and traders are likely to receive. Island nations might also consider action ternational level. Vietnam should be under
The deadly damage from harvesting also through formal and informal international no doubt that it has to clarify its responsi-
brings in the threat of invasive species trade and market control and traceability bility for these boats; captained and crewed
through bilge water or other carriage by mechanisms to stop the illegal trade of and owned by its citizens. From what we
the boat and crew. Beche de mere and other targeted species. have seen, bilateral approaches with Viet-
Affected countries so far, covering half It does seem that more definitive success nam by the Pacific countries met with the
the FFA members and New Caledonia, has may come through market based action, token rhetoric has also included an offer
met with sympathy from the full member- but we are conscious that this is largely to establish a “telephone hotline” so that
ship and other metropolitan countries a “Chinese” market and the potentiality future incidents can be reported directly by
with all keen to step up extra-regional and characteristics of consumer-based Pacific diplomatic officials to Vietnamese
surveillance and intelligence capacity to try “regulation” is a knowledge gap we need Government officials, but without any as-
to better spot, track and apprehend these to address. surance that remedial action with be taken.
boats. But tracking and apprehending Meanwhile a clear regional message is According to one senior Pacific diplomat,
boats at sea is a difficult and expensive shaping itself, that Blue Boat offenders will this seemed to be more of an effort by the
strategy. Increasingly, these affected coun- be dealt with firmly if apprehended in this Government of Vietnam to establish higher
tries are seeking to take action directly region. This may also serve to discourage relations with those nations for their own
with Vietnam, from which these boats future incursions. At the present time objectives, rather than a sincere effort to
appear to originate. some countries are arresting and deporting address the blue boats problem.
Bilateral approaches to Vietnam from crew while confiscating the boats and the We are aware that at least two Pacific
Pacific nations have generally received catch and gear. Others are confiscating all nations that have arrested these boats
only token acknowledgement. Collective gear and catch and either turning the boat have directly approached the Government
regional action from Pacific nation states around with just sufficient fuel and food of Vietnam. However, it is reported that the
and France on behalf of its Pacific territo- to return home, or, in the case of multiple Vietnamese representatives claimed that
ries, is likely to be treated more seriously. seizures, placing all crew onto one boat they do not have authority over these boats
Certainly the Pacific nations confronted and burning the others. as they are not licensed by the national
representatives of Vietnam at the space But where do we focus our Pacific re- government. and furthermore refused
where their interests converge- the De- sources and efforts? The whole point of to accept responsibility to repatriate ap-
cember WCPFC meeting in Fiji. But that the May 2017 workshop, co-facilitated by prehended crews back to Vietnam. This
effort was essentially sloughed off with SPC and FFA in Australia, is to formalise refusal to repatriate crews has imposed
claims that the Government of Vietnam a draft strategy and understand fully the large costs and a disproportionate burden
has no control over these boats and their implications of forward momentum under adding to the injustice being served upon
owners. Future diplomatic and political the regional MCS framework at this point developing Pacific nations.

38 Islands Business, May 2017