MOZAMBIQUE - CHINESE FISHING BOAT SEIZED IN MAPUTO

UNCLAS MAPUTO 001410 SIPDIS SIPDIS AF/S - TREGER DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE FOR ROBERT TELCHIN AF/RSA - BITTRICK E.O. 12958: N/A TAGS: EFIS KCRM PREL CH MZ SUBJECT: MOZAMBIQUE - CHINESE FISHING BOAT SEIZED IN MAPUTO REF: A. 04 MAPUTO 406 ¶B. MAPUTO 1297 ¶1. On October 26 Mozambican authorities seized a Chinese fishing vessel in Maputo's port, after it was found to be carrying an illegal catch of four tons of shark and tuna, according to press reports. The vessel, Da Yuan Yu 309, had docked at the port due to engine trouble. Mozambican authorities suspect that the amount of fish caught was much more than four tons - possibly as much as 70-100 tons - and that the bulk of the catch had been transferred earlier to another vessel offshore. No exact value was given for the four tons of fish, but according to press reports it is worth "many thousands of dollars." The vessel carried a crew of 35 Chinese. Some tried to scratch off the registration markings on the hull of the vessel while it was tied up in harbor, but ultimately gave up doing so. ¶2. At a news conference called jointly by experts from the Mozambican Ministry of Fisheries, the Confederation of Business Associations (CTA) and a group called "Watching the Horizon" that monitors suspect fishing activity along the coast, it was claimed that there are regularly between 100-120 "pirate" boats illegally fishing in Mozambique's waters. Most boats are believed to be Chinese. Many (perhaps most) use long-lining methods, with fishing lines with hooks on them every meter or so stretching up to 20 kilometers in length. A spokesman for the joint news conference told reporters, "We know this type of fishing is destroying our country's marine riches. And one of the biggest tourist, ecological and economic resources of our country is in the sea." ¶3. This seizure follows a seizure in March 2004 of two Chinese vessels that docked at Beira, Mozambique's second city further north on the coast (Ref A). The GRM confiscated their catch of some 70 tons of shark fins. ¶4. Comment: The government is concerned about damage to Mozambique's fisheries but lacks resources to protect its waters. That they got this boat is due to the boat's engine trouble and to the "Watching the Horizon" informal surveillance and reporting network. The government has no patrol boats to conduct surveillance or arrests. The GRM receives substantial Chinese assistance and relations - certainly economic relations, at least - between the two countries have been growing stronger in recent years (Ref B). La Lime