Damage to Tuna Fishing Boats: US Navy Should Face Issue with Sincerity

The U.S. Navy has responded for the first time to allegations of the involvement of United States Naval Ship Impeccable (T-AGOS-23) in recurring incidents in mid-May of tuna fishing boats’ long lines being severed in waters near the main island of Okinawa.

With ambiguous statements of how it understands the losses of the fishermen, however, the U.S. Navy has not fully admitted the survey ship’s involvement. Taking statements from eyewitnesses into consideration, the probability that the Impeccable is involved is high. It is insincere for the U.S. not to admit it is at fault. The U.S. should cooperate fully and investigate the matter.

Going through the Okinawa Defense Bureau, Okinawa Prefecture and Okinawa Fisheries Cooperative Association have been asking the U.S. for more information regarding this issue. On June 7, this paper reported that the Impeccable had sailed repeatedly across waters where a fishing boat’s captain had found his long line damaged.

The captain, standing with his crew about 800 meters away, also took pictures of the Impeccable sailing by. From these pictures, you can clearly see cables from the Impeccable hanging in the water. This is irrefutable proof that the U.S. vessel was involved; it cannot be denied.

The fishing boat captain stated that the Impeccable “went back and forth over the long line many times” and when he “brought the line in, the branch lines were severed.”

There is also said to be an example where a fishing boat abandoned its long line after it became unbalanced as a result of the Impeccable continuing to sail with its cables caught in the fisherman’s line. If this is true, it was an extremely dangerous situation that could have led to the boat capsizing.

The Impeccable tows a low-frequency sonar while it searches for and detects submarines underwater. Although it is said that the Impeccable is increasing its vigilance due to the Chinese military vessels that have expanded their range of activity in recent years, it is absolutely unforgivable if this endangers the lives of civilians or hinders economic activity.

This time, the losses this fishing boat incurred happened southwest of the main island of Okinawa, within Japan’s roughly 110 kilometers of exclusive economic zone. It appears that, in cases that occur outside of Japan’s territorial waters, even though compensation may be required, they are treated according to U.S. law. The Japanese government should not passively look on. It instead should be proactive and mediate between the fishermen and the U.S. Navy.

The fishing season for tuna is limited from April through June and the pricey losses that result from severed long lines are serious. Fishing boats in Kyushu faced damages last year, too. The government of Japan should investigate the situation, including past damages, and strongly appeal to the U.S. for compensation.