I transited the Gulf of Aden on a regular basis when attacks were common. The official word was that it was common for the local fishing boats to carry arms for protection against piracy.
I’d be surprised if you had access to better information that I did at the time.
Why is shitholes in quotes, are you implying they do not exist? Or do you treat them with kid gloves?
They are very real. I have seen them.
And he got a 15 year sentence!
Shooting at trout in a stream is considered unsportsmanlike and is illegal and I can’t think of single legal use of a gun for a fisherman either amateur or professional fishing within our EEZ. The vast majority of gun owners here own a gun to shoot game or to euthanise or home kill stock on a farm.
most in OZ do as they legally can, usually for shooting sharks if they get too involved in their fishing.
I certaily would up north with crocs…
If you ever try to land a large halibut on deck you will think again.
Gulf of Aden is not representative of the world. .
Nor is the coast of BC and the lobster grounds off Main for that matter
PS> Everywhere were there are, or have recently been, armed conflicts there are a glut of weapons. Somalia comes under that category.
I don’t know what point you’re trying to make.
The logic in the defense of the shooter in this case is the other boat was allegedly firing upon other boats so therefore they must be pirates.
I’m just pointing out that is not always the case. In some areas of the world fishing vessels are known to carry small arms as protection against piracy and it’s not unheard of for firearms to be used for other than the intended purpose.
How common the carriage of small arms is on fishing boats in non-piracy areas is irrelevant.
I read of more than a few fisherman in a non-pirate area on east and gulf coasts wished they had a firearm when a crewmember went nuts and hurt/killed people. The illegal immigrant in a recent case attacked the crew with a hammer. I think GCaptain ran a story. One incident in the Gulf of Mexico I witnessed the call from the captain to the USCG, another in Key West. The incident in Key West involved a boat anchored and a man was trying to board it, all they had was a spear gun. USCG plucked the guy out of the water, last call we heard was “We are on our way in,the guy says his name is Jesus”
I don’t know about the legality but having a starting pistol with blanks may be useful for scaring away thieves, but then again that might escalate things and they might start firing back real rounds of ammunition and if they get on the vessel they might shoot people on sight as they think someone is armed. Probably safer not to wind them up by firing blanks and just cooperate with them.
Remember when the Russian Navy lit up a pirate vessel when they got fresh with them?
Feed the sharks, I say. Play stupid games, win stupid prizes.
In the early seventies vessel were anchored for months of Bahrain and Nigeria. The company I worked for had a tanker anchored off Lagos and in the morning found the second mate and the quartermaster with their throats cut and a lot of mooring lines and stores missing.
The pirates mistakenly attempt to board a Russian ship and according to another second mate of the company it was like a war zone.
The same was said about the thieves that operated at the Musi River entrance.
The had learnt not to try boarding any Russian ship.
Ombugge, you’re over the hill and have no clue of much that you vociferate about. A case in point - in several parts of the world where I fished during the 70’s -90’s and then sailed as a merchant mariner through 2017, fishermen and fishing boats were armed.
Too, your rants regarding everyone’s right to a fair trial need not apply to terrorists, career criminals and pirates. The rule of law as we know it was written in a different time and in most civilized countries, if you query the survivors and families of victims of terror/piracy, home invasion, hate crimes, etc. you will find little sympathy for wanton criminals.
Over and out.
And just like during the 1930s those laws are being used by terrorists and wannabe dictators against those who trust the law to protect them.
We have no hesitation to kill dangerous animals yet we subject our selves and society to predation by those who laugh at our laws while cutting the throat of an old women in a church.
I don’t know where you fished, or sailed as a merchant mariner, but it must have been in some dangerous waters.
I have been working worldwide but I have not seen weapons being carried on fishing vessels, except those engaged in seal hunting.
PS> Aside from countries where there are, or have recently been, armed conflict, weapons are tightly controlled.
All you need to know about “Rule of Law” in the world is here:
Study it at your leisure. Maybe you learn something.
It’s kind of sad for all parties involved.
One, for the pirates. I mean obviously what they are doing is wrong but they are so desperate they have to resort to being pirates.
And then, Two, the sailers and mariners aboard have to witness and deal with that situation. Hopefully, none of them will end up traumatized.
how would you know fishing vessels didnt carry weapons, did you work in the fishing industry?
How often did you load weapons and or explosives in Singapore or do you not know about that industry?
Did you ever enter Singapore with weapons/.explosives and find out they have a system to deal with this?
How do you know that they do? Have you worked on fishing vessels that carried arms? If so, where?
I have been involved with the fishing industry, but not as crew on fishing boats.
Although I was close to becoming Fishing Skipper on Shrimp trawlers in Papua New Guinea back in 1970. (Long story)
I have been involved with fisheries in various capacities over the years and was born in a fishing and sealing town. (Back there now)
Have loaded explosives in Singapore, but many years ago. I do know that Singapore have a weapons industry and do export weapons and ammunition. Not a secret, or have you and your Buddies got some conspiracy theories to share?
PS> You do know the penalties for spreading false rumours I presume?
Yes I know the rules for entering Singapore with weapons. If you do, make sure you declare it, otherwise you risk the death sentence.
If a ship carry small arms when entering Singapore and it is declared, the weapon(s) are taken into storage and returned on departure. Both ways under armed escort and the expenses charged to the ship.
no conspiracy there but lots of guns in the fishing industry and it seems normal to me, maybe you dont need them in Norway when fishing for Salmon?
Maybe its a Southern Hemisphere thing?
I know a megayacht that did a lap of the world full of guns.
Nervous American owner