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The Pacific tour will be highlighting the problems of tuna overfishing,
and pirate fishing in the region. A recent Greenpeace report found that
Pacific Bigeye and Yellowfin species of tuna will be critically
overfished within three years. The tour will challenge fishing nations
to urgently take the steps needed to stop vital tuna fisheries
collapsing.
Pacific Islander and Chief campaigner onboard, Lagi Toribau said:
“We are sucking the oceans dry, unless drastic action is taken now then Bigeye and Yellowfin face extinction within three years, and then all we will see is empty nets. Instead of taking responsibility for overfishing their own waters, rich industrialised nations, are moving into other areas, such as the Pacific. Travelling thousands of miles, they use boats that can take as much in 2 days, as our local fleets can take in a year.
“If we do not want to see Pacific tuna go the same way as Atlantic cod, and Pacific livelihoods destroyed; we need to immediately halve the fishing effort and the amount of tuna being caught, end pirate fishing, and create a network of marine reserves – national parks at sea.”
In the Pacific, foreign fishing fleets from distant countries such as Japan, USA, Taiwan, China, Philippines and the EU take 90% of the tuna catch, and 95% of the USD $2 billion the fish is worth on the global market. Pirate fishing, illegal, unreported and unregulated fishing, is also rife in the region. Pirates give nothing back and leave a trail of environmental destruction in their wake.
As well as being a consumer of Pacific tuna, Australia, has a key role in the regional Tuna Commission and must use this to push for greater protection of the stocks.
Lagi Toribau continued: “ Consumers in these fishing nation countries eat Pacific tuna, completely unaware that it is being stolen. It is the rich stealing from the poor, and if it’s allowed to continue at this rate, soon there’ll be none left for anybody.”
Background images and footage available.
Pacific Islander and Chief campaigner onboard, Lagi Toribau said:
“We are sucking the oceans dry, unless drastic action is taken now then Bigeye and Yellowfin face extinction within three years, and then all we will see is empty nets. Instead of taking responsibility for overfishing their own waters, rich industrialised nations, are moving into other areas, such as the Pacific. Travelling thousands of miles, they use boats that can take as much in 2 days, as our local fleets can take in a year.
“If we do not want to see Pacific tuna go the same way as Atlantic cod, and Pacific livelihoods destroyed; we need to immediately halve the fishing effort and the amount of tuna being caught, end pirate fishing, and create a network of marine reserves – national parks at sea.”
In the Pacific, foreign fishing fleets from distant countries such as Japan, USA, Taiwan, China, Philippines and the EU take 90% of the tuna catch, and 95% of the USD $2 billion the fish is worth on the global market. Pirate fishing, illegal, unreported and unregulated fishing, is also rife in the region. Pirates give nothing back and leave a trail of environmental destruction in their wake.
As well as being a consumer of Pacific tuna, Australia, has a key role in the regional Tuna Commission and must use this to push for greater protection of the stocks.
Lagi Toribau continued: “ Consumers in these fishing nation countries eat Pacific tuna, completely unaware that it is being stolen. It is the rich stealing from the poor, and if it’s allowed to continue at this rate, soon there’ll be none left for anybody.”
Background images and footage available.
Notes to Editor
Two media briefings “Pirates of the Pacific” and “Stolen Fish, Stolen Futures” are available at www.greenpeace.org.au/resources/factsheets/overfishing
For further information or comment
Contacts: On the ship, Jo Kuper, Greenpeace International Communications, + 47 514 079 86 Joanna.kuper@uk.greenpeace.org Greenpeace press office Sydney, + 61 (0) 418 408 683 (24 hrs) For images and video footage please call Michelle Thomas, +61 (0) 404 096 556
