Despite strong calls from Pacific Island Countries to limit
fishing and widespread support to close two high seas enclaves to
purse seine fishing(1), Japan, Korea and Taiwan blocked any
agreement.
The failure took place on the backdrop of warnings from the
scientific community that the catch of bigeye tuna needs to be cut
by up to 50% to ensure its survival, and that the current short ban
in place for fish aggregating devices (FADs) is insufficient to
address bycatch of juvenile bigeye tuna and other marine life. In
2010, only a 10% catch reduction will be implemented on bigeye and
a three month ban will be in place on the use of FADs. Both
measures fall far short of scientific advice provided to the
Commission.
"It is beyond belief that Japan, Korea, China and Taiwan are
unable to follow the advice given to them by their own scientists,
and continue to prioritise short term economic gains," said Sari
Tolvanen, Greenpeace International Oceans Campaigner in Tahiti.
"The demands of the fishing industry and the shady international
networks of fish traders should not be more important than securing
long-term sustainable supplies of tuna to their own consumers."
"This is an economic and social crime that is repeated in ocean
after ocean, year after year, and which will soon lead to the
disappearance of the word's favourite fish - tuna," continued
Tolvanen. "Markets must now take urgent action to stop the trade of
unsustainable tuna."
Measures agreed in 2008 to ban purse seine fishing in two large
high seas pockets will come into effect in January 2010. In
addition eight of the most tuna-rich countries in the Pacific will
take unilateral measures to restrict tuna longline fishing in those
high seas pockets from January 2010. However, longline fishing
vessels that do not hold fishing licenses with those countries can
still fish tuna in the high seas areas.
Pirate fishing in the Pacific is estimated to be some of the
highest anywhere in the world(2), and further undermines the stock
estimates and management attempts of the fishery. Greenpeace has
been calling for the four high seas pockets to be to be designated
as marine reserves since 2005, and has undertaken four ship
expeditions in the region to gather evidence of the legal and
illegal overfishing taking place.
"Asian distant water fishing nations have shown that they have
no intention to work with Pacific Island Countries to conserve tuna
stocks, and ensure that the development aspirations of small island
states are met," said Lagi Toribau Greenpeace Australia Pacific
Oceans Campaigner in Papeete. "The Pacific must now build on the
solidarity they have shown in recent years to reject fishing by
nations that are threatening their resources, livelihoods and
futures."
Greenpeace is campaigning for a global network of fully
protected marine reserves, covering 40% of our oceans. They are
essential to ensure clean and healthy oceans and protect marine
life from overfishing and habitat destruction. Healthy oceans can
also play a vital role in building resilience against the
devastating effects of climate change.
Other contacts: Sari Tolvanen, Greenpeace International Campaigner in Papeete, +31655125480
Lagi Toribau, Pacific Oceans Team Leader in Papeete, +679 9370330
Notes: (1) The pockets of international waters identified by Greenpeace as
needing protection as marine reserves lie between Pacific Island
country national waters - a map showing their locations is available
athttp://www.greenpeace.org/international/campaigns/oceans/marine-reserves/pacific-tuna-need-marine-reserves
(2) Marine Resource Assessment Group (MRAG) and the University of
British Columbia (2008) “The global extent of illegal fishing”
Exp. contact date: 2010-01-14 00:00:00