Best Defense

Thomas E. Ricks' daily take on national security.

Food wars: New Zealand edition

Two fishing vessels suspected of illegal fishing in Antarctic waters are refusing inspections by the New Zealand navy.

Volvo Ocean Race 2014-2015 - Leg 3
Volvo Ocean Race 2014-2015 - Leg 3
AT SEA - JANUARY 6: In this handout image provided by the Volvo Ocean Race, onboard Dongfeng Race Team. Jack Bouttell steered us through a slalom course of small, wooden fishing boats. We were greeted by waving silhouettes and dark faces that shrank back to the horizon as fast as they came. IÕd never seen fishing boats with flags like theirs, and I wondered if theyÕd ever seen a racing yacht like ours. During Leg 3 between Abu Dhabi, UAE and Sanya, China. The Volvo Ocean Race 2014-15 is the 12th running of this ocean marathon. Starting from Alicante in Spain on October 11, 2014, the route, spanning some 39,379 nautical miles, visits 11 ports in 11 countries (Spain, South Africa, United Arab Emirates, China, New Zealand, Brazil, United States, Portugal, France, the Netherlands and Sweden) over nine months. The Volvo Ocean Race is the world's premier ocean race for professional racing crews. (Photo by Sam Greenfield/Dongfeng Race Team/Volvo Ocean Race via Getty Images)

Two fishing vessels that are suspected of illegal catches in Antarctic waters refused to allow inspection by a ship from the New Zealand navy. The ships are registered in Guinea (which gave permission for boarding) but thought to be part of a Spanish fishing group.

Two fishing vessels that are suspected of illegal catches in Antarctic waters refused to allow inspection by a ship from the New Zealand navy. The ships are registered in Guinea (which gave permission for boarding) but thought to be part of a Spanish fishing group.

Sam Greenfield/Getty Images

Thomas E. Ricks covered the U.S. military from 1991 to 2008 for the Wall Street Journal and then the Washington Post. He can be reached at ricksblogcomment@gmail.com. Twitter: @tomricks1

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