INFORMATION ON ILLEGAL FISHING IN STATISTICAL AREA 58 ASSESSMENT OF ILLEGAL FISHING IN FRENCH WATERS AROUND KERGUELEN AND CROZET ISLANDS REPORT OF OBSERVATIONS AND INSPECTIONS IN THE CCAMLR AREA 2009/2010 SEASON (1 JULY 2009 – 15 AUGUST 2010)

1/ Resources deployed by France to fight illegal fishing

The system deployed by France to fight illegal fishing in the EEZs of the French Antarctic Territories uses both a maritime component and satellite technology.

A satellite radar surveillance system has been in operation since February 2004 at CROSS1 Réunion, and is used by that institution to carry out and direct monitoring at sea.

The French Navy makes available a dedicated patrol vessel and surveillance frigates carrying helicopters. The Osiris, a patrol vessel for the Department of Maritime Affairs, originally an illegal fishing vessel which was arrested and converted to a patrol vessel in 2003, is also assigned to fisheries surveillance.

A bilateral agreement with Australia provides for patrolling to be carried out reciprocally in the waters of the other cooperating party (French vessels in Australian waters and Australian vessels in French waters). These patrols have legal capacity to take action within the other party's waters. The agreement, which was signed in January 2008 and has already been ratified by the French Government, will allow for the use of force in the near future.

2/ French EEZs at Kerguelen (58.5.1) and Crozet (58.6)

Illicit historical fishing gear has been found by licensed fishing vessels within the Crozet and Kerguelen EEZs on a number of occasions throughout the season.

In the Kerguelen EEZ on 21 and 29 April 2010, the licensed longliner Ile Bourbon hauled four sections of net of two different types to the south-west and north-east of Kerguelen. These nets were retained on board and samples were taken by the fisheries inspector on board.

On 10 June 2010, the licensed longliner Cap Horn hauled a length of so-called 'Spanish' longline with oxidised hooks to the north-east of Kerguelen. Photos of the gear were taken and a sample collected.

On 26 August 2010, the licensed longliner Ile Bourbon hauled fishing gear while hauling its own gear in the western sector of the Crozet EEZ. The presence of shellfish on the buoy rope and oxidation on the hooks suggests that the gear had been in the water for more than six months.

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