Greenpeace confronts illegal fishing in the Mediterranean Sea

Tag : sea vessel

Italy  Activists aboard the Greenpeace ship Arctic Sunrise exposeda pirate vessel fishing with a driftnet in international watersearly this morning and retrieved a length of the illegal net. TheArctic Sunrise confronted the fishing vessel Luna Rossa in theMediterranean Sea, around 40 miles west of the Italian island ofMarettimo, off Sicily (1).
The fishing pirates were using a fishing practice that has longbeen banned by the United Nations and the European Union because ofthe high level of bycatch including whales, dolphins and turtles(2). Clearly aware of its illegality, the vessel was attempting tohide its registration number to avoid identification andprosecution. When detected by Greenpeace, the fishermen cut theirnet and steamed away at high speed.

"Driftnets are walls of death, and their continued use is piracy"said Karli Thomas, Greenpeace International Oceans Campaigneraboard the Arctic Sunrise. "Greenpeace is out on the water exposingthese offenders, but the real responsibility for enforcing thedriftnets ban and punishing these villains lies with the Italiangovernment and the European Union. For years, Mediterraneangovernments have continued to condone such piracy when the law hasgiven them a mandate to protect the Mediterranean Sea  that is thereal scandal"

Greenpeace is campaigning for a global network of fully protectedmarine reserves covering 40% of our oceans as an essential way toprotect our seas from the ravages of climate change, to restore thehealth of fish stocks, and protect ocean life from habitatdestruction and collapse. As part of this campaign, the ArcticSunrise is currently in the Mediterranean documenting threats tothe sea and promoting the designation of marine reserves (3).

"All Mediterranean countries must unite to protect the Sea - tostop illegal fishing and protect this shared resource. Laws withoutenforcement are worthless, real action is needed to stop theplunder. If we want fish tomorrow, we need marine reserves today"Thomas concluded.

Greenpeace is an independent campaigning organisation that usesnon-violent creative confrontation to expose global environmentalproblems to drive solutions that are essential to a green andpeaceful future. Related Links Source
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