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Salient. Official Newspaper of the Victoria University Students' Association. Vol 41 No. 7. April 10 1978

Russian Fishing Practice

Russian Fishing Practice

Dear Sir,

Re: Squid Pro Quo. Salient May 15

Regarding S. Thorpe's assertion that "Russia is far from being the worst fishing nation. It has a record of efficiency, cooperation and concern for observing the local regulations," I must take grave exception.

I have no knowledge of the New Zealand experience with the Russian fleets but I can tell you that the outrageous behaviour of Russian fishermen in Canadian waters has led to Russian fishermen being denied port facilities in Canada, and has forced Canadian fishermen to arm their boats in order to dissuade Russian trawlers from slashing their nets, and otherwise trying to terrorize them out of the rich fishing grounds of the Canadian Grand Banks.

This was before the declaration of the 200 mile territorial limit, at a time when everything beyond 12 miles was 'international waters'. The navy repeatedly tried to protect the fishing fleets but the four destroyers and two submarines assigned to East Coast patrol could not be everywhere at once. On one occasion the Russians were actually filmed cutting the trawl lines of a Canadian boat and at that point the government denied them port facilities.

As usual, the Russians showed that the only rules they obey are those of force. Once the government took a hard line with them, they decided to be gentlemen, but until that point seemed interested in doing only what was to their own advantage, rules be damned.

It requires no ideological disagreement with the Russian political system to observe that in international relations, Mother Russia does exactly as she pleases until forcibly stopped by sanctions or threatened military action. This can indeed be called "efficient cooperation" as S. Thorpe asserts, but it carries connotations not normally associated with the word 'cooperation'.

Sincerely,

Doug Thompson.