Fishing Vessels

• Author: Jeffrey Lehman, Shirelle Phelps

Page 428

Customary INTERNATIONAL LAW provides that coastal fishing boats and small boats engaged in trade, as distinguished from seagoing fishing boats and large traders, are immune from attack and seizure during war. This IMMUNITY is lost if fishing vessels take part in the hostilities. To prevent such involvement many nations have agreed not to take advantage of the peaceful character of such vessels in their war effort.