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CONUNDRUM

During the last couple of weeks NAUTICAL LOG has been concentrating on our neighbor of some 700 miles away - Haiti. This does not mean however that we ignore other nautical events such as the Southern Ocean whaling. It has been quiet down there as the Japanese seem to have a good measure of how to deal with and are dealing with the SS-PG. Of course the SS-PG website has regular Posts but nothing about their anti-whaling activities. That may be because since having whales actually killed in front of him 'Wats-his-name' seems quite disconcerted on how to proceed.

Now 'Wats-his-name' has come up with a bright new idea for attention getting - is 'Animal Planet' setting his agenda one wonders. He has announced that later this year he is heading to the Mediterranean with both ships MS Steve Irwin and MS Bob Barker. His plan it seems is to attack the Bluefin tuna fishermen who are decimating the remaining stocks in the Med. Now these fishermen come from Spain, Italy, Malta, Greece, Cyprus and France. Remember France? this is the country whose TAAF Prefect and a Chief of District gave SS-PG a letter of approval (which is reproduced in our previous Post) for engagement in piratical activities. So now this puts France in a very interesting legal position because SS-PG will be attacking French fishermen in European waters with the written approval of the French Government.

In my previous Posts you may recall me writing about minor French diplomats betraying French Algeria then a Department of France. It would seem that in the waters off Algeria history is likely to repeat itself. Under European Union laws France, Spain, Italy, Malta, Cyprus and Greece will be obliged to deploy their Navies or Coastguards to prevent any attacks against shipping or fishing. In their website the SS-PG have stated that they are prepared to lose vessels in this planned action - no mention is made of personnel but it would seem a strong possibility. The French fishermen have already told President Sarkozy that they would block the French ports if he took any action against them regarding Bluefin tuna fishing. Also SS-PG had to leave the dock quickly when French fishermen reacted negatively to a SS-PG vessel and its personnel in St. Pierre & Miquelon the French Islands south of Newfoundland. That vessel was later detained by the Canadian Coastguard.

As always NAUTICAL LOG will continue to monitor the situation, assess it and report on it. We look forward to your comments as always.

Good Watch.

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