French soldiers on tuna ships fire on Indian Ocean drifters

French marines deployed on the French tuna fleet off the Seychelles fired again at suspected Somali pirates on Tuesday as well as on Thursday, the second and third such clash in the space of a few days as France protects its highly lucrative tuna industry.

While navies from around the world struggle to contain escalating pirate attacks in the Indian Ocean, some countries like France are opting to directly protect their vessels though others fear this could make things worse.

Small boats carrying what appeared to be Somali pirates chased two French tuna fishing ships some 370 km (about 200 nautical miles) north of the Seychelles, French military spokesman Rear Adm Christophie Prazuck said concerning the Tuesday attack. Christophe Prazuck said two French tuna trawlers were attacked. He said the pirates fled following the French counterattack and that the incident was finished for the moment. He said the French soldiers were not following the pirates because they are aboard slow-moving fishing boats.

"The troops fired a type of flare to show the pirates that the ships were protected. As they continued to come closer, the soldiers fired warning shots in front of the boats of the pirates, who turned back and stopped the attack," he said.

Last Saturday, French troops fired at pirates in a similar confrontation to protect two tuna ships some 350 km off the Seychelles.

That was the first time the French fought off an apparent pirate attack since the plan to protect their tuna fleet was implemented in July. But the Seychelles coast guard called in to assist had to let the 11 Somali fishermen go for lack of any evidence that they would be pirates.

The tuna industry is worth up to $6 billion across the Indian Ocean region, and some 60 French marines are now protecting about 10 vessels off the Seychelles. "It's useful, efficient and sufficient," Prazuck said.

However, other countries have expressed fears that putting troops and armed guards on merchant ships or fishing boats will further worsen the situation and lead to an escalation of violence.

Spanish tuna fishing boats off the Seychelles have also been targeted by Somali pirates, who have widened their hunting grounds to avoid navy patrols along the coast of Somalia and in the Gulf of Aden.
Gangs from lawless Somalia -- some made up of former fishermen who lost their livelihood as foreign fleets moved into the waters -- have made tens of millions of dollars in ransoms by hijacking merchant ships.(with reports from agencies)

~	Conference, Oct. 16, 2024. The War Against the Past: Fighting for our History

~	SLAV - Robert Lepage's Reaction

~	Author and Tolerance.ca Editor, Victor Teboul, Ph.D., to speak at the Arab World Festival of Montreal

~	Iran : Hey Ayatollah, Leave those kids alone! and Pink Floyd's remake

~	UN-backed group supports Somali Government’s peace overtures to rivals

~	Cargo vessel captured near Seychelles is commandeered to Somalia

~	U.S. and Oman Navy Rescue Indian Dhow from Somali Pirates - One Sailor Dead

~	Canada. 50% of tax filers participate in a private retirement savings plan

~	Somali Pirates capture second merchant vessel in 24h

~	Canada. 41% of adults have a high cholesterol level