SEA SHEPHERD VESSEL TURNED BACK BY NAVY, STILL HELD IN GALAPAGOS Via NY Transfer News * All the News That Doesn't Fit source - "Andrew Christie" 31 August 2001 ECUADOR NAVY vs. SEA SHEPHERD: DAY 8 - Ocean Warrior departure blocked, Navy denying visa of Sea Shepherd marine liaison officer PUERTO AYORA, GALAPAGOS - After being allowed by the Ecuadorian Navy to transfer necessary parts and supplies to the Sea Shepherd patrol vessel Sirenian yesterday, Ocean Warrior Captain Paul Watson pronounced himself satisfied that the Sea Shepherd Conservation Society had succeeded in carrying out its conservation mission in the Galapagos despite a 5-day deadline and the restrictive detention imposed by the Navy on his crew. Sean O'Hearn, who accompanied the Sirenian when it first came to the Galapagos last year and returned last week on board the Ocean Warrior, had arranged to remain on a 30-day visa. O'Hearn has served as liaison between the Park and Sea Shepherd for the Sirenian's patrol efforts in the Galapagos. The Ocean Warrior attempted to depart this afternoon, only to be turned back by the Ecuadorian Navy when officers demanded that O'Hearn rejoin the vessel and leave the country. Ocean Warrior inquired with Ecuador Immigration, who affirmed that O'Hearn's 30-day visa was valid and he is authorized to remain in the country. Officials also affirmed that O'Hearn is still in possession of a one-year diplomatic visa. Ocean Warrior again prepared to depart, and the Navy again insisted that O'Hearn must leave the country. At this hour, Naval personnel are preparing to escort O'Hearn to the Ocean Warrior. Captain Watson has stated that he will refuse O'Hearn permission to board. "The Navy and port authorities denied us permission to enter the country, then required us to declare an emergency in order to enter, then accused us of having no emergency, then variously imposed, relaxed, and tightened arbitrary restrictions on the movements of my crew and visitors to the ship, and denied our valid visas," said Captain Watson. "Despite this, we managed to do what we came here to do, and as a result our patrol boat will shortly be in peak operating condition and ready to resume its duties in the service of the Galapagos National Park." "The Park has been doing an amazing job," said O'Hearn. "As for the Navy, I think this incident is probably best viewed as good practice for them: The way they've treated us is exactly the way they should treat illegal fishing vessels caught inside the Galapagos Marine Reserve. Now they need to focus on that." The Sirenian is on a five-year tour of duty to help the National Park Service clamp down on illegal commercial fishing operations within 40 miles of the Galapagos Islands, a UNESCO World Heritage Site. The commercial fishing ban has been in effect since 1997, but is regularly violated by the huge Ecuadorian fishing fleet, foreign vessels, and independent operators. The heaviest damage is done by longliners going after billfish and sharks. # Contact: Senor Gustavo Noboa Presidente de la Republica del Ecuador Fax: 593-2-580-735 E-mail: despresi@presidencia.ec-gov.net IN THE USA Ivonne A-Baki The Embassy of Ecuador 2535 15th Street, N.W. Washington, DC 20009 Tel: 202- 234-7200 Fax 202- 667-3482 E-Mail: mecuawaa@erols.com IN CANADA The Embassy of Ecuador 50 O Connor St., Suite 113 Ottawa, ON K1P 6L2 Tel: 613-563-8206 Fax: 613-235-5776 E-mail: mecuacan@sprint.ca IN EUROPE The Embassy of Ecuador Koninginnegracht 84 2514 AL Den Haag, Netherlands E-mail: embecua@bart.nl Sea Shepherd Conservation Society 22774 Pacific Coast Hwy. Malibu, CA 90265 Tel.(310) 456-1141 Fax.(310) 456-2488 http://www.seashepherd.org seashepherd@seashepherd.org ================================================================= NY Transfer News Collective * A Service of Blythe Systems Since 1985 - Information for the Rest of Us 339 Lafayette St., New York, NY 10012 http://www.blythe.org e-mail: nyt@blythe.org ================================================================= nytenv-09.01.01-19:38:38-25248