Poachers

Poachers
By: Travis Lien


No matter how many laws, guidelines, and regulations are created there will always be those who ignore and resist them. These people are called poachers and they’re a huge problem all over the world, especially Indonesia, New Zealand, and Australia. Fortunately, as the poaching problem grows, so does efforts to combat it.
New Zealand’s unique hotline, 0800 4 POACHER, is becoming highly effective as the volume of calls steadily increases. The hotline recently led to the arrest of a significant fishery thief, and all because a responsible, law-abiding fisherman was aware that one phone call was all it takes in New Zealand. The hotline’s potential will attempt to be maximized as The Ministry of Fisheries provides education, promotion, and other resources to stop poachers.
Australia is taking a more aggressive approach in response to poachers. In addition to increasing fines, jail time, and navy patrols, Australian officials are considering allowing their Naval ships to fire on illegal fishing vessels in necessary. This issue arose after Indonesian pirates evaded the arrest of an Australian patrol boat and ignored their warning shots. The unusually dangerous poachers were described as having been “…fitted with iron spikes and carrying a crew armed with machetes and guarded by pitbull terriers…” Australia’s direct approach of brute force has been very effective as evidenced by the 90% drop in sightings of foreign fishing vessels this year.


"Fisheries poacher hotline gets results." Latest News. Ministry of Fisheries, 17 Feb. 2010. Web. 23 Feb. 2010. .

"Navy to fire on fishing poachers." The Australian 11 Mar. 2005, 2 - All-round First ed., Local sec.: 2-2.

"Net Closes on Poachers." The Australian 18 May. 2007, 2 - All-round First ed., Local sec.: 2-2.