# Japanese fishing boat
**URL:** https://boards.straightdope.com/t/japanese-fishing-boat/54027
**Category:** Factual Questions
**Created:** [February 11, 2001, 9:19am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/japanese-fishing-boat/54027 "2001-02-11T09:19:28Z")
**Posts on this page:** 20
**Page:** 1
### Author:  [@Jorge](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jorge)
#### Post date: [February 11, 2001, 9:19am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/japanese-fishing-boat/54027/1 "2001-02-11T09:19:28Z")
The news reports have covered the unfortunate accident here in Hawaii, and the subsequent search and human interest stories… but one thing puzzles me, and perhaps someone on the board knows or heard the answer:
The Japanese fishing boat was reported to have been on its way back from fishing maneuvers in _Hawaiian_ waters. How is that ? It doesn’t seem likely that a foreign flag vessel would be legally fishing within the territorial waters; or perhaps even, as a training vessel, within the EEZ waters.
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### Author:  [@Monty](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Monty)
#### Post date: [February 11, 2001, 3:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/japanese-fishing-boat/54027/2 "2001-02-11T15:32:12Z")
You might as well ask what US fishing vessels are doing fishing in Russia’s territorial waters or Japan’s territorial waters or…well, you get my drift.
IIRC, there’s a limit to the catch that foreign flagged vessels can catch in other countries’ waters.
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### Author:  [@Johnny\_L.A](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Johnny_L.A)
#### Post date: [February 11, 2001, 4:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/japanese-fishing-boat/54027/3 "2001-02-11T16:25:30Z")
How far out are our territorial waters anyway? If it’s three miles, then at nine miles offshore the Japanese vessel may have been outside of our territorial waters. If it’s 12 miles, then they were inside. Are there special limits for fishing vessels?
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### Author:  [@ScoobyTX](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ScoobyTX)
#### Post date: [February 11, 2001, 4:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/japanese-fishing-boat/54027/4 "2001-02-11T16:45:33Z")
Yeah, I was wondering about this myself. According to Reuters, the boat was 9 miles south of Diamond Head. That is definitely within the 12 mile territorial limit.
My (tongue-in-cheek) question/comment is: Don’t we know that nothing good can come of a Japanese boat anywhere near Pearl Harbor?
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### Author:  [@Duck\_Duck\_Goose](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Duck_Duck_Goose)
#### Post date: [February 11, 2001, 7:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/japanese-fishing-boat/54027/5 "2001-02-11T19:56:31Z")
According to this site,
[http://www.bartleby.com/65/wa/waters-t.html](http://www.bartleby.com/65/wa/waters-t.html)
it can be either 12, 24, or 200 miles, depending on whom you ask.
> [@](#):
>
> The UN-sponsored Law of the Sea Treaty, which went into effect in 1994, codified territorial waters of 12 nautical mi (13.8 mi/22.2 km) and an exclusive economic zone of 200 nautical mi (230 mi/370 km). In 1999, U.S. agencies were empowered by presidential proclamation to enforce American law up to 24 miles (39 km) offshore, doubling the previous limit.
Then there’s this.
[http://www.britanicca.com/bcom/eb/article/1/0,5716,73661+1+71794,00.html](http://www.britanicca.com/bcom/eb/article/1/0,5716,73661+1+71794,00.html)
> [@](#):
>
> Distinct from territorial waters proper are zones in the adjacent high seas in which coastal states claim no territorial rights but assert limited jurisdiction for one or more special purposes. These contiguous zones of 6 to 12 mi beyond territorial waters are most commonly claimed for the enforcement of customs and sanitary regulations, but in some instances they may be established for fishery protection or for security. Also distinct from territorial waters are the claims made after 1945 by many states to the continental shelf off their shores, in or on which potentially valuable resources might exist.
So, it depends.
And you wanna open a REAL can of worms–start looking for answers on the subject of “foreign fishing fleets and territorial waters and fishing catch limits”. Real ugly. Here’s a sample.
[http://www.greenpeaceusa.org/media/publications/afatext.htm](http://www.greenpeaceusa.org/media/publications/afatext.htm)
> [@](#):
>
> Despite this clear intent, the Anti-Reflagging Act did not work as planned thanks to the United States Coast Guard and the courts. The Coast Guard and the courts interpreted both grandfather provisions (on foreign rebuilds and foreign control) very broadly, saying that once a vessel qualified the grandfather runs permanently with the ship. As a result, a flood of large, essentially new factory trawlers entered the fishery. The speculative contracts, often nothing more than a U.S. built hull number and a contingent contract to rebuild overseas signed by a lawyer, were quickly sold to foreign fishing companies anxious to keep control of U.S. fish supplies…
Also see:
The Turbot War.
> **[Government of Newfoundland and Labrador](https://www.gov.nl.ca)**
>
> Gov.nl.ca is the official website for the province of Newfoundland and Labrador. It is the one place to find all government services and information.
[http://phe.rockefeller.edu/green\_conflicts/](http://phe.rockefeller.edu/green_conflicts/)
> [@](#):
>
> Canada and Spain came to the brink of serious conflict over the cod on the Grand Banks off Newfoundland in the early 1990s. Widespread scientific agreement on the fragility of the fish stocks in the region, including the opinion of both Canadian and Spanish experts, helped avoid lethal outcomes.
And, last but not least, the Icelandic Cod Wars. (that’s “wars”, _plural_)
[http://www.american.edu/ted/icefish.htm](http://www.american.edu/ted/icefish.htm)
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### Author:  [@Jorge](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jorge)
#### Post date: [February 12, 2001, 12:28am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/japanese-fishing-boat/54027/6 "2001-02-12T00:28:57Z")
> [@](#):
>
> _From Monty_…
> You might as well ask what US fishing vessels are doing fishing in Russia’s territorial waters or Japan’s territorial waters or…well, you get my drift.
You meant “drift-_net_” ? But seriously, the fishing is in the various EEZ’s, from 12 to 200, not within 12 [or 24 or whatever, as _DuckDuckGoose_ points out]. The exact business about the territorial limit often depends on the continental shelf and/or nearby lands - as would happen with the Grand Banks, or western Aleutian waters. But that doesn’t figure here, well over two hundred miles from anything else.
If they were in the US EEZ, as a licensed commercial fishing operation as opposed to a training vessel [which is probably not allowed], that’s perhaps possible, although there’s nothing in that general vicinity they’d be after; it’d be all **much** further north [commercial waters for marlin, swordfish, tuna, et al.] Under this circumstance, they’d have had license checks, fresh maps, VMS transponders, etc…, _que no_ ?
So my question is more precisely [my fault]: under what conditions would that vessel have been operating where it was ? Or as DDG suggests, are there no rules to speak of ?
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### Author:  [@Diceman](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Diceman)
#### Post date: [February 12, 2001, 1:29am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/japanese-fishing-boat/54027/7 "2001-02-12T01:29:22Z")
Let’s forget about what the fishing boat was doing there (obviously, it had a reason) to ask a far more relevant question: **WHY THE HELL DIDN’T THE SUBMARINE LOOK WHERE IT WAS GOING?**
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### Author:  [@likearock](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/likearock)
#### Post date: [February 12, 2001, 7:16am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/japanese-fishing-boat/54027/8 "2001-02-12T07:16:21Z")
Diceman- It’s simple: “The Law of Gross Tonnage”
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### Author:  [@Blackclaw](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Blackclaw)
#### Post date: [February 12, 2001, 1:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/japanese-fishing-boat/54027/9 "2001-02-12T13:16:52Z")
No, I think Diceman raises a good point. This submarine can track and attack ships a hundred miles away. Why didn’t it realize a fishing boat was right above it?
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### Author:  [@Cheese\_Head](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Cheese_Head)
#### Post date: [February 12, 2001, 2:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/japanese-fishing-boat/54027/10 "2001-02-12T14:27:04Z")
Conspiracy theory: the Japanese were spying on Pearl Harbor and Hawaii, using a fishing boat as cover. The US military learned of this, so the sub deliberately surfaced to sink the boat, pretending it was an accident. Feb 11, 2001: another day that will live in infamy.
Also, this incident will help promote the new movie about Pearl Harbor coming out soon, so Hollywood is involved in the conspiracy.
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### Author:  [@Sublight](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sublight)
#### Post date: [February 12, 2001, 2:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/japanese-fishing-boat/54027/11 "2001-02-12T14:34:39Z")
According to The Japan Times, they weren’t actually fishing. The ship was carrying 13 second-year high school students (11th grade US) from the Uwajima Fisheries High School in Ehime, Japan (kind of a vocational school for fishermen). They had travelled to Hawaii to do “tuna research,” and their ship had been docked in Honolulu before the collision.
To quote the Times article, “Uwajima Fisheries High School… is one of many Japanese fisheries schools that train stuedents in Hawaiian waters.”
“Hawaii is popular for its safety, medical services and its ability to respond systematically in times of emergency.”
…
“The schools used to train in the Indian Ocean, but piracy and civil strife along sea routes leading there have made that ocean unpopular.”
Japan Times, Feb. 11, 2001 “Nine Japanese Missing off Oahu” and “Safety, Services Attract Fishery Schools to Hawaii.”
–sublight.
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### Author:  [@CnoteChris](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/CnoteChris)
#### Post date: [February 12, 2001, 2:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/japanese-fishing-boat/54027/12 "2001-02-12T14:41:00Z")
Goof-balling aside, I recently watched a special on U.S. submarines on c-span, of all places, that dealt with this very issue.
The commander of the sub basically said that the only thing he feared the most on a sub was surfacing. The interviewer seemed somewhat incredulous to his comment and pushed him on it. He eventually said that while it’s relatively easy to see what’s out there around you, it’s damn tough to see what’s directly behind you or above you.
Why? I’m not sure.
But isn’t it possible that the fishing boats engines were off at the time that the sub surfaced and the sub simply didn’t ‘see’ it?
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### Author:  [@Adolph\_Peewee](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Adolph_Peewee)
#### Post date: [February 12, 2001, 2:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/japanese-fishing-boat/54027/13 "2001-02-12T14:59:13Z")
ironic that this is the same place that the japanese sunk a heap of American warships nearly 50 years ago isn’t it?
mmm…does anyone else smell the sweet savour of revenge here?!
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### Author:  [@Cheese\_Head](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Cheese_Head)
#### Post date: [February 12, 2001, 3:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/japanese-fishing-boat/54027/14 "2001-02-12T15:15:53Z")
> [@](#):
>
> \*Originally posted by Adolph Peewee \*
> ironic that this is the same place that the japanese sunk a heap of American warships nearly 50 years ago isn’t it?
Actually, it was a little over 50 years ago, but yes, it’s highly ironic. Of all the vast Pacific waters, to have an “accident” between a US sub and Japanese boat right there near Pearl Harbor. What are the odds of that? Smells mighty fishy…I think there is a conspiracy.
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### Author:  [@wring](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/wring)
#### Post date: [February 12, 2001, 3:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/japanese-fishing-boat/54027/15 "2001-02-12T15:19:06Z")
> [@](#):
>
> \*Originally posted by Adolph Peewee \*
> \*\*
> mmm…does anyone else smell the sweet savour of revenge here?!
> \*\*
Obviously you have strong feelings about Pearl Harbor. I understand that. However, I feel that it is an insult to the memory of those who died there to suggest that the accidental death of some school kids \* who happen to be Japanese\* is in any way a ‘revenge’ for those who died at Pearl Harbor.
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### Author:  [@RickJay](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/RickJay)
#### Post date: [February 12, 2001, 3:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/japanese-fishing-boat/54027/16 "2001-02-12T15:57:05Z")
> [@](#):
>
> \*Originally posted by Cheese Head \*
> \*\*
>
> > [@](#):
> >
> > \*Originally posted by Adolph Peewee \*
> > ironic that this is the same place that the japanese sunk a heap of American warships nearly 50 years ago isn’t it?
>
> Actually, it was a little over 50 years ago, but yes, it’s highly ironic. Of all the vast Pacific waters, to have an “accident” between a US sub and Japanese boat right there near Pearl Harbor. What are the odds of that? Smells mighty fishy…I think there is a conspiracy. \*\*
Gosh, imagine a boat colliding with a U.S. Navy submarine right outside - of all places - a gigantic U.S. Navy base. Who would have thought that’s where an American warship would be? 🙂
(Okay, I know, a submarine isn’t a “Ship.”)
I can see why it might be tough for a submarine to “see” something directly above it, but IIRC, this particular class of submarine is equipped with a device called a “periscope.” Surely to God they do periscope checks before surfacing? I’m careful to check my blind spot when I’m driving my Regal. If I was driving a frigging Los Angeles-class submarine, I’d use the damned periscope.
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### Author:  [@Diceman](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Diceman)
#### Post date: [February 12, 2001, 4:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/japanese-fishing-boat/54027/17 "2001-02-12T16:38:09Z")
One website gave a list of alleged collisions between US submarines and other stuff. This list is surprisingly long. Can anyone confirm/refute these incidents?
> [@](#):
>
> Between 1967 and 2000 there were 11 documented collisions between American and Russian submarines, eight of which occured in the Barents sea. Majority of these collisions occured near Russian shores and were caused by the U.S. submarines. In addition to that, there were numerous collisions between the U.S. submarines and surface vessels, as well as between American submarines. Most of such collisions occured when the submarines were surfacing and involved a Los-Angeles class submarine.
Some specific alleged incidents are:
**October, 1986:** A Soviet K-219 submarine sank in the Atlantic ocean after colliding with the USS Augusta (Los Angeles class). The USS Augusta sustained extensive hull damage.
**June 14, 1989:** The USS Houston (Los Angeles class) collided with the _Barcona_, a small surface vessel that was towing two barges. The collision occured between Los Angeles and Santa Catalina Island off southern California, when the submarine had been about to take part the next day in the filming of “The Hunt for Red October.”
**February, 1992:** There was a collision between a Russian type-“Kostroma” (NATO designation: Sierra II) nuclear submarine and the USS Baton Rouge, Los Angeles class submarine. The American sub was trailing the Russian sub and miscalculated its speed. Both submarines sustained significant damage. The Baton Rouge was written off.
**March, 1993:** There was a collision between a Russian K-407 SSBN (NATO designation: Delta IV) nuclear submarine and the USS Grayling (Sturgeon class submarine). Once again, the American sub was trailing the Russian sub and miscalculated its speed. Both submarines sustained significant damage. The Grayling was written off.
**February 1998:** A US Navy attack submarine (Los Angeles class) collided with a South Korean fishing ship. The submarine sustained damage and the South Korean fishing ship sank. The Los Angeles-class submarine was surfacing when it collided with the surface ship.
**March, 1998:** Two US Navy nuclear submarines - the USS Kentucky (Ohio class) and the USS San Juan (you guessed it: Los Angeles class) - collided with each other off Long Island, New York. The Kentucky was on the surface when the San Jan surfaced and hit it.
If all of these incidents are true, then it’s easy to see why the Russians think that the Kursk was hit by the USS Memphis.
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### Author:  [@Alphagene](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Alphagene)
#### Post date: [February 12, 2001, 4:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/japanese-fishing-boat/54027/18 "2001-02-12T16:52:25Z")
For those of you not keeping up with the details, the sub was practicing a “emergency main ballast tank blow” when it hit the Japanese boat. That’s when the sub surfaces so fast that it blasts out of the water. They show it on the Discovery Channel all the time.
[CNN reports](http://www.cnn.com/2001/WORLD/asiapcf/east/02/12/japan.substrike.02/index.html):
“Before attempting the maneuver, the submarine does periscope and acoustic searches for hazards from a depth of about 60 feet, said Lt. Cmdr. Dave Werner, spokesman for the U.S. Pacific Fleet’s submarine force. If the water is found to be clear, the vessel returns to a greater depth and then surges to the surface, Werner said.”
[Edited by Alphagene on 02-12-2001 at 10:56 AM]
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### Author:  [@Hiro\_Protagonist](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Hiro_Protagonist)
#### Post date: [February 12, 2001, 5:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/japanese-fishing-boat/54027/19 "2001-02-12T17:43:57Z")
Maybe the Navy should investigate what sort of stealthing technologies the Japanese Fishing Industries are now using! Seriously, the Silent Service is the most inherently dangerous profession in the world. For the submariners, the Cold War is not over. It is their job to track all foreign assests that may in anyway bring harm to the United States or it’s allies. And they do it day in and day out for weeks and months at a time 24/7. And they do it with out ever seeing the light of day. All they have to navigate is a clock, a map and their math. So it’s understandable that collisions can and do occur. Have you ever actualy looked out of a periscope? Your point of view is a few feet at most above the water. Not the best POV available. The only real way to scan for contacts on the surface is via radar mounted in the mast. But submariners spend all their time pretending to be a hole in the water, they certainly aren’t going to brodcast their position with a pulse of EM.
All these considerations aside, the skipper of the sub just had his career in the Navy thrown in the shitter. If it’s any consolation…
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### Author:  [@MsWhatsit](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MsWhatsit)
#### Post date: [February 12, 2001, 8:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/japanese-fishing-boat/54027/20 "2001-02-12T20:50:28Z")
I asked my SO about this, figuring he’d be a good source of info as he served on a US nuclear submarine for a couple of years.
He told me that during an emergency surfacing drill such as the one the Greeneville was performing, standard operating procedure would be to 1) do a periscope check, 2) contact a surface ship and ask them if the surface was clear, and/or 3) do a normal surfacing, check the water, then resubmerge and do the emergency surfacing.
His theories as to why the Greeneville didn’t know there was a fishing boat directly overhead: 1) The sub wasn’t where it thought it was. If the sub called up the surface ship and said, “Hey, we’re in X location, is there any clutter on the surface?” and the surface ship said, “Nope, all clear,” and then the ship surfaced somewhere ELSE, obviously that would be a problem. 2) The surface ship screwed up and said the coast was clear when actually it wasn’t. 3) The commander never contacted a surface ship and screwed up when doing the periscope check.
Keith (the SO) said that any of these scenarios seems unlikely to him, as someone (perhaps multiple someones) would have had to screw up on a colossal scale. But obviously, someone DID screw up on a colossal scale. His opinion is that the Navy will eventually figure out exactly what happened, but might or might not release the information to the general public.
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