Burgo-Tierradoran EEZ Exploitation Settlement (2003)

From the mid-90s until 2003, the Exclusive Economic Zone of Tierrador on the Orixtal Sea was the setting of exploitation by distant-water fleets of Burgiognesc fishermen and the subsequent defense of said fisherman by the government of Burgundie. The exploitation and conflicts that resulted after were colloquially known as the Salmon Wars, due to the fishermen being heavily focused on Tierradorian salmon, though other marine life, such as octopi (octopodes), cod, shark, and groupers were targeted as well.

Background

Burgundie, a prominent maritime nation with a vast distant-water fishing fleet, had a long history of engaging in commercial fishing ventures worldwide. Tierrador, on the other hand, possessed rich fishing grounds within its exclusive economic zone (EEZ) and while fishing was vital source of revenue and employment for local communities, it was not developed on an industrial scale.

The Salmon Wars was a series of disputes and confrontations that occurred between the distant-water fleet of the Merchant Marine of Burgundie and the nascent fishing fleet of Tierrador from 1996 to 2003. The conflict arose due to the exploitative fishing practices employed by Burgundie's distant-water fleet within Tierrador's economic exclusion zone, leading to significant tensions and economic losses for the Tierradorian fishing industry.

In 1996, Burgundie's distant-water fleet began exploiting the fishing resources off the coast of Tawakee, where they ventured into the Tierradorian EEZ in pursuit of abundant fish stocks. The fleet employed large-scale fishing techniques such as bottom trawling and purse seining, which had detrimental effects on the marine ecosystem and severely depleted local fish populations. By 1999 the unrestricted activities of the Burgoignesc distant-water fleet caused great concern amongst Tierradorian fishing communities, whose livelihoods depended on the sustainable management of their fishing resources. The local fishermen experienced a decline in catch sizes and struggled to compete with the well-equipped and efficient vessels of the Merchant Marine of Burgundie. The Tierradorian Maritime Defense Authority had difficulty in catching these fishing ships as they were equipped with over the horizon radars in order to avoid capture. In 2000, the Tierrador Navy was dispatched to assist the MDA in catching these vessels.

Tierrador repeatedly protested against Burgundie's fishing practices and the encroachment of their fishing fleet into their territorial waters, but there was no hard evidence that it was occurring beyond their fishermen's accounts and very grainy pictures which were not definitive. Diplomatic negotiations and discussions were initiated to find a resolution, however the efforts were largely unsuccessful, leading to a gradual escalation of tensions between the two nations.

Open civilian conflict

In late 1998, a Tierradorian trawler, the Tale'etakas, encountered the Burgoignesc fishing ship, the Ocean Voyager, within Tierrador's EEZ. Frustrated by the lack of progress made the countries governments, the Tierradorian trawler intentionally maneuvered alongside the Burgoignesc vessel, causing a collision that resulted in significant damage to both ships. During the chaotic encounter, crew members from the Tale'etakas cut the nets of the Ocean Voyager, leading to a loss of valuable catch. The Ocean Voyager was towed outside of Tierrador's EEZ by the Maritime Defense Authority and handed over to a Navy of Burgundie patrol, but no charges were pressed. In July 1999, a Burgoignesc trawler, the Stella Maris, found itself surrounded by Tierradorian trawlers while operating near Tierrador's territorial waters. In a coordinated effort to defend their fishing resources, the Tierradorian trawlers encircled the Burgoignesc vessel, deliberately tangling their nets with those of the Stella Maris. As the entangled nets caused chaos and hindered the movement of both parties, the Tierradorian crew members methodically cut the nets of the Stella Maris. The Stella Maris was impounded by the Maritime Defense Authority but the crew was put on a plane back to Burgundie.

February 2000, the Tierradorian trawler, the "Esperanza," took a more aggressive approach. Spotting the Burgoignesc trawler Aurora the Tierradorian crew initiated a deliberate collision, ramming the bow of their trawler into the side of the Aurora. The forceful impact rendered the Aurora it temporarily immobile. The Tierradorian crew, taking advantage of the situation, swiftly cut the nets of the stranded ship, further escalating the tensions between the two sides. The Burgoignesc crew later reported that the Maritime Defense Authority was present in the area and did nothing to stop the eminent collision, leading to accusations that the government of Tierrador was becoming complicit in these acts of sabotage and violence.

Ironic technological innovations

In the late 90s Burgundie released the Automatic identification system (AIS) as a way to improve maritime safety and track ships. In early 2001, Tierrador adopted the AIS system, and soon the MDA, along with the Environmental Regulation Authority (ERA) began using it to document the incursions of Burgundie's distant-water fleet. They presented these to the Burgoignesc embassy in Taisgol, however the practices continued despite clear evidence of illegal exploitation. After a year of collecting evidence the Tierradorian delegation to the LoN took evidence to the General Assembly. The General Assembly remained divided on the issue, therefore the Tierradorian delegation took the matter to the International Justice Court who in turn declined to review the case siting the nascent nature of AIS technology.

Tierradorian government intervention

As the Tierradorian requests for a halt to the fishing activities went unanswered, the conflict took on a more confrontational tone. In 2002 several MDA vessels, using AIS, were dispatched to deter the Burgoignesc fishing fleet. The initial interactions were fairly harmless with the Tierradorian navy/coast guard escorting the Burgoignesc ships to the edge of the Tierradorian EEZ and barring them from returning. A few months of this did not deter the Burgoignesc fleets who began shutting off their AIS transponders, therefore the Tierradorian Navy steps in and begins arresting Burgoignesc fishermen, bringing back their boats to be impounded. The Burgoignesc fishing companies paid to release the boats and the sailors are let off with a hefty fine. Even with said fines, the incursions persisted, which prompted the Tierradorian navy to arrest the sailors, not allowing their release even with payment and starts destroying the distant-water fishing ships in early 2003.

The settlement

In early 2003, The League of Nations finally agreed to a resolution to condemn Burgundie and force it to join an arbitration with Tierrador. After 4 months of negotiation the Burgo-Tierradoran EEZ Exploitation Settlement is reached. Burgundie agrees to withdraw its distant-water fleet permanently from the Tierradorian EEZ, and is forced to pay $200 million (₽218 million ponča) to a financial assistance fund which provides support to Tierradorian small local fisherman during seasons where they experience shortages of fish due to the rampant overfishing of the EEZ by the Burgoignesc distant-water fleet.

Aftermath

Burgo-Tierradoran EEZ Exploitation Settlement had far-reaching consequences for both nations. Tierrador's fishing industry faced significant challenges in recovering from the depletion of fish stocks and the disruption caused by Burgundie's activities. Efforts were subsequently made to implement stricter fishing regulations and enhance surveillance and enforcement within Tierrador's waters. For Burgundie, the conflict highlighted the need for responsible fishing practices and sustainable resource management. The incident served as a catalyst for reforming the nation's fishing policies, leading to increased scrutiny of the distant-water fleet's activities and a shift towards more sustainable fishing methods (e.g. Sudmoll's law banning "wild" marine capture and the creation of the Joint Office of Evangeline Economic Development and Food Security on Iles Evangeline).

The Salmon Wars and the resulting Burgo-Tierradoran EEZ Exploitation Settlement stands as a significant case study highlighting the importance of maritime cooperation, responsible fishing practices, and the protection of coastal states' economic interests. The resolution of the conflict and the subsequent compensation served as a precedent for addressing similar disputes in the international arena. The legacy of the conflict also underscored the need for effective management and regulation of fishing activities within EEZs to ensure the long-term sustainability of marine resources. The incident contributed to ongoing discussions and efforts aimed at strengthening international frameworks and cooperation in managing and conserving global fisheries.