France Gets Tougher on Piracy

France has passed some strong legislation to fight pirates.

"In a context of rising acts of piracy, particularly in the Indian Ocean, an efficient fight against piracy requires us to strengthen the French state's capacity to intervene, especially on the high seas," reads the cabinet bill.

Under the bill, navy commanders "acting under the control of the judicial authorities, will be able to record piracy crimes and offences and to arrest their perpetrators with a view to bringing them to trial," it reads.

The bill aims to "enable the commanders of the navy ships, while at sea and in waters that do not depend on any state jurisdiction, to take measures adapted to the exercise of the state's police powers at sea." The bill gives broad powers for prosecution:

"French jurisdiction will apply for acts of piracy when the perpetrators and accomplices are arrested by French agents and that no other state exercises its competence."

France appears to be all in on the legal side of piracy. The French have already started putting troops on their fishing vessels in the Seychelles, for example. The US House and Senate have debated bills related to piracy, but it is unclear if any consensus or meaningful action will result. Last I heard there was still considerable disagreement in the US bill details, and it is unclear how new laws will impact the private sector or the Navy.