It’s rusting, rat-infested and filled with squid. The Bangun Perkasa, an illegal fishing boat with no national affiliation, is about to be introduced to the bottom of the sea. Hit the jump to read the rest of the story.
@WiL

The craft was seized off the coast of Alaska by the U.S. Coast Guard on Sept. 7 as part of a crackdown on illegal drift-net fishing, an outlawed technique that often snares birds, turtles and other marine life.

In addition to 30 pounds of squid, the vessel contained 10 shark carcasses – and 10 miles of drift nets – when it was taken into custody, officials said.

The crew of 22 was held aboard the craft under Coast Guard supervision until Monday, when they were flown to Anchorage.

Coast Guard crew members dispatched to guard the ship were appalled by what they found.

“These were pretty deplorable conditions,” Coast Guard Capt. Craig Lloyd told The Seattle Times. “In some cases, they were waking up and there were rats crawling about.”

Exterminators were trying to kill the vermin this week, since any vessel with rats are barred from entering Alaskan coastal waters.

Alaskan Sen. Mark Begich wonders why any effort to save the ship is necessary. He wants the Bangun Perkasa sunk as a message to other illegal fishing operations.

“The hulk should be towed far offshore, well beyond the rats’ ability to swim, and then the Coast Guard should open fire,” the Democratic senator suggested.

Dispatching the boat to a watery grave would prevent “the rust bucket from ending up back on the market where it most likely will fall into the hands of some other pirate,” he said.
DN