The Turbot War: The arrest of the Spanish vessel Estai and its implications for Canada-EU relations

Abstract

On March 9, 1995, Canadian officials on fisheries patrol vessels fired warning shots, then boarded and seized the Spanish trawler Estai. Fishing on the Nose of the Grand Banks, but beyond Canada's 200-mile fishing zone, the Estai had been using an illegal net and had resisted previous boarding attempts. The European Union (EU) strongly objected to what it cast as a violation of international law. The objective of this thesis is to provide a comprehensive analysis of the Estai incident and its implications for Canadian fisheries policy and Canada's relations with the EU. The Estai seizure and subsequent "Turbot War" formed an important chapter in Canada's diplomatic history, arousing national feeling while souring relations with the EU, at least in the short term. However, this action against foreign overfishing helped bring about much needed changes regarding international fish conservation. Agreements came into place with the EU and other NAFO members allowing for full observer coverage on vessels and other improvements. As well, the Turbot War fostered the emergence of the new United Nations Fisheries Agreement dealing with conservation, pollution reduction, and the right of member states to inspect another country's vessels to ensure compliance with internationally-agreed rules of regional fishing. Even so, problems resurfaced in the workings of NAFO, and fish stocks have seen only limited recovery.