先にこのブログでも取り上げた、パラオ、ヤップでのベトナム違法操業取締の経過ニュースを見つけた。
パラオ海洋警察に拿捕された83人のベトナムの違法操業の漁師は、必要な分の食料と燃料をパラオ政府からもらい、一艘の船で送還されることになった。
残りの拿捕された４隻の船はパラオ政府が押収することに。
パラオ外務省はベトナム政府に対し、せめて通訳を送って欲しいと依頼したがベトナム政府は全く協力の姿勢を示さなかったそうである。レメンゲサウ大統領が怒っている。
さて、83人の違法操業犯罪者が２ヶ月近く滞在した費用その他は、人口2万人のパラオ政府にとって相当な負担であったであろう。
４隻の押収船で元が取れるかどうか？本来ならば違法操業の罰金が要求できるのであろうが、相手は母国政府も相手にしない漁師たちだ。一銭も取れない。
そうなると、沿岸地域で違法操業を繰り広げるこれらの漁船取締はインセンティブを失い、マトモに登録して入漁料を払っている日本漁船の記載漏れのようなほとんど漁業資源に関係ない違法操業を取り締まった方がよい、と言うことになる。しかも罰金は数千万円から億単位で取れるのだそうだ。これをやっているのが隣のFSM。
このベトナム違法操業船、隣のミクロネシア連邦ヤップ州にも出没。ヤップには取締船がないため地元の漁船が拿捕したそうである。こちらは56人がヤップに勾留されている。
パラオのケースと同じベトナム違法操業ということもあり、パラオ司法当局との協力が進められているという。
4 Vietnamese Vessels apprehended for illegal fishing
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Settlement Reached To Return Vietnamese Fishermen From Palau
83 accused of illegal fishing to forfeit four boats, fishing gear
By Jose Rodriguez T. Senase
KOROR, Palau (Island Times, Dec. 5, 2014) – A settlement has been reached regarding some 83 fishermen from Vietnam who are in the custody of the Palau Government after they were caught in separate incidents while illegally fishing in waters of this island nation.
President Remengesau, in his weekly press conference at the President’s Satellite Office in Meyuns on Wednesday, December 3, 2014 said that it was agreed that the Vietnamese will be sent home using one of their boats.
The President said the Vietnamese will be provided with food and enough fuel for a one-way trip to ensure that they will be back to their home country.
It is not yet known when the fishermen will depart for Vietnam. Most of the fishermen are from the coastal province of Quang Ngai in southern Vietnam.
The President said that the Palau Government through Minister of State Billy Kuartei earlier communicated with the Vietnamese Government regarding the plight of the fishermen.
The Palau Government has requested the Vietnam Government to at least send a translator who will act as a go-between the Palau authorities and the fishermen.
"The Vietnamese Government washed its hands off this by saying that the fishermen caught in Palau are just some of many similar cases they are dealing with," he said.
The Vietnamese were apprehended by Palau authorizes in separate occasions which occurred on November 5, 2014 and November 7, 2014.
In the first incident, three boats with 38 crew were captured off Velasco Reef, Kayangel State on Nov. 5.
Two days later, another three boats with 43 crew were apprehended off Ngeruangel Marine Reserve in Kayangel State. Only two of three boats were successfully escorted to the Marine Law Dock in Malakal after one of the boats burned while under escort.
The fishermen were housed in their own boats while in Palau.
The other four boats and the fishing gear captured by authorities will be forfeited in favor of the Palau Government.
Island Times
