110-day ocean hunt ends with Sea Shepherd rescuing alleged poachers

By Tim Hume, CNN

Updated 0156 GMT (0956 HKT) April 8, 2015

The last image of alleged poaching vessel the Thunder before it is completely submerged near Sao Tome. The crew on board were rescued by the Sea Shepherd vessel that had pursued them for months.
Photos: A cat-and-mouse game on the sea
Thunder sinks – The last image of alleged poaching vessel the Thunder before it is completely submerged near Sao Tome. The crew on board were rescued by the Sea Shepherd vessel that had pursued them for months.
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The Thunder lists dramatically to the starboard side as it takes on water. The captain of the Sea Shepherd vessel that came to the rescue told CNN that he believed that the Thunder was deliberately sunk to destroy evidence of illegal fishing.
Photos: A cat-and-mouse game on the sea
Thunder sinks – The Thunder lists dramatically to the starboard side as it takes on water. The captain of the Sea Shepherd vessel that came to the rescue told CNN that he believed that the Thunder was deliberately sunk to destroy evidence of illegal fishing.
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The Sea Shepherd ships remain at a safe distance from the sinking Thunder.
Photos: A cat-and-mouse game on the sea
Thunder sinks – The Sea Shepherd ships remain at a safe distance from the sinking Thunder.
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Sea Shepherd crew hand over water to the Thunder crew in life rafts.
Photos: A cat-and-mouse game on the sea
Thunder sinks – Sea Shepherd crew hand over water to the Thunder crew in life rafts.
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Sea Shepherd crew tow a convoy of life rafts back to the safety of their ship.
Photos: A cat-and-mouse game on the sea
Thunder sinks – Sea Shepherd crew tow a convoy of life rafts back to the safety of their ship.
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Sea Shepherd vessels the Bob Barker and the Sam Simon flank the alleged poaching vessel, the Thunder.
Photos: A cat-and-mouse game on the sea
Sea Shepherd at work – Sea Shepherd vessels the Bob Barker and the Sam Simon flank the alleged poaching vessel, the Thunder.
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Pursuing the alleged poaching vessel, the Bob Barker avoids a near collision with the Thunder.
Photos: A cat-and-mouse game on the sea
Sea Shepherd at work – Pursuing the alleged poaching vessel, the Bob Barker avoids a near collision with the Thunder.
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The Sam Simon's small boat gathers evidence of the Thunder's operations.
Photos: A cat-and-mouse game on the sea
Sea Shepherd at work – The Sam Simon's small boat gathers evidence of the Thunder's operations.
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The leaders of Operation Icefish, Captains Sid Chakravarty and Peter Hammarstedt, in front of some of the 72 km of illegal gillnet Sea Shepherd alleges was abandoned by the Thunder after it was found fishing in the Southern Ocean. The conservation group claims about $3 million worth of toothfish was found in the nets.
Photos: A cat-and-mouse game on the sea
Operation Icefish leaders – The leaders of Operation Icefish, Captains Sid Chakravarty and Peter Hammarstedt, in front of some of the 72 km of illegal gillnet Sea Shepherd alleges was abandoned by the Thunder after it was found fishing in the Southern Ocean. The conservation group claims about $3 million worth of toothfish was found in the nets.
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Story highlights

  • Sea Shepherd rescues the crew of an alleged poaching ship it had chased for 110 days
  • The conservationist group had pursued the vessel since it was found illegally fishing off Antarctica, it says
  • Sea Shepherd captain tells CNN he believes the ship was deliberately sunk to destroy evidence

(CNN)A 110-day cat-and-mouse chase spanning from Antarctic waters to the coast of west Africa had an unlikely end when the crew of an alleged poaching vessel were rescued by conservationists pursuing them.

Environmentalist group Sea Shepherd had been tailing the Thunder -- subject of an Interpol "purple notice" for suspected fraud and fisheries-related crimes -- since its ship the Bob Barker encountered it in the Southern Ocean several months ago.