Greenpeace activists free marine life in the high seas

The activists, who are campaigning to end the destruction of the Pacific oceans, removed a hook from the mouth of a stingray that had been snared as bycatch, and retrieved a section of lines and hooks
left by the tuna fishing vessel in waters where key tuna stocks are threatened with depletion.  

The Esperanza then escorted Oryong 717 back into the waters of Kiribati, where it has a license to fish. Fishing gear belonging to the vessel was returned after an agreement with the vessel to stop fishing in international waters.

Pacific countries proposed in May that all pockets of international waters located in between their economic zones should be closed to all fishing activities (1).  These areas are the final refuge for tuna, as stocks in other oceans have been severely depleted and vessels from the US, Europe and Asia have increased fishing in the Pacific.

 “The Oryong 717 is one of the many longline vessels chasing a dwindling tuna resource in the Pacific. Next year, this high seas area will be closed to purse seine ships but it should be closed to all types of fishing.  All countries must respect the wishes of Pacific nations to close these areas and protect tuna - their lifeline,” said Josua Turaganivalu Greenpeace Oceans campaigner on board the Esperanza.

“Time and tuna are running out. The Western Central Pacific Fisheries Commission can become a global leader in oceans conservation by agreeing to immediately reduce fishing by half and by closing all four
pockets of international waters in the Pacific at its summit in December,” said Mr Turaganivalu.

 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 (2).

Longliners like the Oryong 717 mainly target bigeye and yellowfin tuna, destined for luxury sashimi markets in major cities where this fashionable food has become popular. Scientists have warned that both species may be severely overfished (3).

In addition, approximately 35% of long-line catch consists of non-target species, including threatened oceanic sharks, and turtles (4), and many tuna long-line vessels also engage in controversial shark-finning activities.
Pirate fishing by long-line fleets is also thought to be significant, and is often facilitated by transshipments at sea (5).

The Esperanza’s “Defending Our Pacific” tour is part of an international campaign for clean and healthy oceans through the creation of a global network of marine reserves and effective enforcement of laws that protect ocean life Already during the tour, the Esperanza has confiscated several fish aggregating devices, which are currently banned, exposed illegal transhipment activities by two Taiwanese longline vessels and documented the oceans plunder by a Japanese purse seiner.