Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
05MAPUTO1410
2005-10-28 09:16:00
UNCLASSIFIED
Embassy Maputo
Cable title:
MOZAMBIQUE - CHINESE FISHING BOAT SEIZED IN MAPUTO
how-toVZCZCXRO2181 PP RUEHDU RUEHJO RUEHMR DE RUEHTO #1410 3010916 ZNR UUUUU ZZH P 280916Z OCT 05 FM AMEMBASSY MAPUTO TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC PRIORITY 4587 INFO RUCNSAD/SOUTHERN AFRICAN DEVELOPMENT COMMUNITY RUEHBJ/AMEMBASSY BEIJING 0216 RUEHGZ/AMCONSUL GUANGZHOU 0001 RUESLE/AMCONSUL SHANGHAI 0001 RUEAIIA/CIA WASHDC RUCPDOC/DEPT OF COMMERCE WASHDC RHEFDIA/DIA WASHDC RUEHLMC/MILLENNIUM CHALLENGE CORP WASHINGTON DC RHEHNSC/NSC WASHDC
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
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
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