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Here we go again. Nobody in the Mexican Navy seems to know what's going on as the San Diego based sportfisher Aztec was boarded around 2-pm on Saturday, 30-miles off the Baja coast by the Mexican Navy and asked to move out beyond the 24-mile zone that requires boats to check in in Ensenada, Baja California.
I know what you are thinking. The Aztec was asked to stay outside of the 24-mile zone while he was fishing 30-miles from the Baja Coast. Doesn't make any sense, right? Well, the captain of this particular Mexican Navy vessel had a different interpretation of the law. You see, the Aztec was only 18-miles off the Coronado Islands. Apparently, the Mexican Naval Captain interpreted the Coronado Islands as Mexican soil and therefore deduced that the Aztec had to move further out to sea in order to comply with the 24-mile rule, law, or whatever it is this week.
This has been one of the problems for the San Diego fleet as Mexico seems to change it's mind and redefine things from day to day. There is that not too crazy perception that not only are the Mexicans being unfair and unjust to the US based fleet, but that they don't seem to know what's going on either.
One very powerful Baja business owner told PFO that he/she cringes every time the Mexican Navy engages in this kind of behavior. "I just wish there were some easy to understand rules to follow and that they were well publicized," the source told PFO. "We are making a comeback here in Baja and we don't need the Navy riling up US public opinion against us."
SAC has already contacted Mexico City and is working feverishly to resolve this as well as a few other pressing issues. Much has been made about the head of SAC, Ken Franke not doing a good job throughout this debacle.
From my vantage point, SAC is lucky to have Franke. The guy is sharp and has a work ethic second to none. These are complex issues that have no easy answers. For those who say Franke is bringing a knife to a gun fight, I say that they lack some historical perspective in Mexican/American relations.
At Franke's side is Michelle Gandola who has command of the Spanish language and understands Mexican culture and how things work south of the frontera. She also has been working tirelessly on all the aforementioned issues.
Mexico could theoretically shut down sportfishing to US boats tomorrow so go ahead and tread on in there and thump your chest and make demands, reasonable or not. Those who want that gun fight may not like what happens next.
Politics is the art of compromise and Franke is doing a very good job of navigating in troubled waters.
PRIVATE BOATERS
According to the Consulate Generals office in Baja Norte, private boaters are not exempt from this process. While it does not appear that private boaters are being targeted right now, it's any ones guess when that might start.
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