The aim of the campaign is to cut tuna fishing in the region by
50 per cent and to close four areas of international waters to all
fishing and have them designated as marine reserves (2).
Over half the world's tuna is caught in the Pacific, with the
vast majority taken by distant water fishing nations from Asia, the
US and Europe. Despite agreements to reduce tuna catches to combat
overfishing; an estimated 2,426,195 metric tonnes of tuna was
caught in the Pacific in 2008 - the highest annual catch on record
(3). The countries with highest tuna catch are the Philippines,
Japan, Indonesia, South Korea, Taiwan and the USA. China and Spain
are also showing a steady increase in catch sizes.
"Pacific tuna stocks are in crisis, and it is appalling that
instead of reducing their tuna catches, fishing fleets are
increasing their plunder of the Pacific. The fishing industry is in
danger of fishing itself to death," said Karli Thomas, Greenpeace
New Zealand oceans campaigner, on board the Esperanza.
"The only way to stop this rush to fish out what's left of the
tuna on our planet is to urgently cut, by half, the level of
fishing across the region and to close all four pockets of
international waters in the Pacific to all fishing, and declare
them as marine reserves."
During the expedition, Greenpeace will ensure that international
tuna fleets adhere to the two-month ban on purse seine fleets using
fish aggregation devices (FADs), which are responsible for wasteful
bycatch of juvenile tuna and other endangered marine life such as
sharks and turtles. The Western and Central Pacific Fisheries
Commission (4), (popularly known as the Pacific Tuna Commission),
has instituted the FAD ban during August and September.
Greenpeace's "Defending Our Pacific" tour aims to demand the
protection of Pacific tuna through the establishment of marine
reserves spanning the four pockets of international waters in the
Pacific Ocean, and ensuring sustainable levels of fishing outside
of these areas. The proposed areas are home to endangered
leatherback turtles, as well as minke and sperm whales, and other
deep-sea life and provide vital feeding and breeding areas for the
region's lifeline - tuna.
Last year, the Pacific Tuna Commission agreed to close two of
these areas to all tuna purse seining, the main fishing method used
in the Pacific, from January 2010 onwards. In addition, at a
meeting in May 2009 Pacific Island nations supported in principle
the closure of all four pockets of international waters. The
Commission will have the opportunity to close all four pockets of
international waters to all fishing at its December meeting.
"Protecting these areas from fishing is vital to the future of
the Pacific Ocean and the many countries that depend on it for
their food and livelihoods," said Josua Turaganivalu, Greenpeace
Australia Pacific oceans campaigner, onboard the Esperanza. "In
addition purse seining with FADs must be banned globally."
Greenpeace is campaigning for a global network of fully
protected marine reserves covering 40 per cent of our oceans as an
essential way to protect our seas from the ravages of climate
change, to restore the health of fish stocks, and protect ocean
life from habitat destruction and collapse.
Other contacts: Onboard the Esperanza, Tel.+ +47 5140 7988
Karli Thomas, Oceans Campaigner (Expedition Leader), Greenpeace New Zealand
Josua Turaganivalu, Oceans Campaigner, Greenpeace Australia Pacific
Arthur Dionio, Greenpeace International communications
New Zealand
Chris Harris, Greenpeace New Zealand campaign director, 021 971 234
Phil Crawford, Greenpeace New Zealand communications and media, 021 2299 594
Notes: NOTES:
1) Scientists have warned since 2001 that bigeye and yellowfin tuna are being fished beyond their limits, and this month the scientists of the Western and Central Pacific Fisheries Commission agreed that a 34-50 per cent reduction in fishing was needed to protect stocks. Their warnings have so far not been heeded, and pressure on stocks has not been reduced. Overfishing by large industrial fishing fleets from Asia, US and Europe has stymied the calls by Pacific Island countries to protect tuna stocks in the region.
2) The pockets of international waters identified by Greenpeace as needing protection as marine reserves, lie between Pacific Island country national waters - a map showing where they are is available at: http://www.greenpeace.org/international/campaigns/oceans/marine-reserves/pacific-tuna-need-marine-reserves
3) SOURCE: Western and Central Pacific Fisheries Commission, www.wcpfc.int/meetings/2009/5th-regular-session-0
4) The Western and Central Pacific Fisheries Commission is comprised of 27 countries namely Australia, Federated States of Micronesia, Korea , Palau, Chinese Taipei, China, Fiji, Republic of Marshall Islands, Papua New Guinea, Tonga, Canada , France, Nauru, Philippines, Tuvalu, Cook Islands, Japan, New Zealand, Samoa, United States of America, Indonesia, Senegal, European Community, Kiribati, Niue, Solomon Islands, Vanuatu.
Exp. contact date: 2009-09-27 00:00:00