PIRATES INVADE PACIFIC: NEW BLACKLIST SHOWS

Illegal, unreported and unregulated (IUU) fishing-often referred to as, "pirate fishing"-has become a global scourge.  Pirate fishing robs Pacific Islanders of their livelihoods and sustenance.  It leaves the marine environment bruised and battered, undermining food security and attempts at sustainable management.

The global environmental organisation launched its "IUU blacklist' as the 4th session of the Technical Compliance Committee (TCC4) meeting of the Western and Central Pacific Fisheries Commission (WCPC) meets in Pohnpei, Federated States of Micronesia to discuss increased regulation of tuna fishing in the Pacific where IUU fishing of the regional tuna stocks is rife.

Globally US $9 billion a year is lost to pirate fishing and estimates in the Pacific range from US$134 million to US$400 million. Pirate fishing amounts to four times more than Pacific Island states earn in access fees and licenses.

Greenpeace Australia Pacific Oceans campaigner, Lagi Toribau said two things can be done to reduce piracy.

"Transfer of fishing catches at sea should be banned and marine reserves created in international waters which are bound by Pacific Island countries, as off limits to all fishing.  This would close off a safe escape route currently open to pirates illegally fishing adjacent to national waters," he said.

Mr Toribau said this would only be achieved if TCC4 reaches strong recommendations for bold, targeted and effective conservation and management measures.

"Forum Island leaders have reaffirmed the Vava'u declaration (2) and the WCPFC must turn itself around.  Failure to do so will mean the WCPFC will follow in the footsteps of other failed or failing Regional Fisheries Management Organisations (RFMOs) such as the International Commission for the Conservation of Atlantic Tunas (ICCAT), now seen as "an international disgrace" to fisheries management (3).  

The new Greenpeace blacklist of supplements an earlier IUU database, which contains only those pirate-fishing vessels officially blacklisted by regional fisheries management organisations and governments. The new blacklist contains information on vessels and companies that have been recorded engaging in IUU activities, but have not yet been blacklisted by an official body. It includes independent observations from the legal fishing industry, government authorities, and first-hand evidence from Greenpeace and other NGOs.

"In the fight against pirate fishing, Greenpeace believes the United Nations should create what could be called 'an interpol for the oceans' so that with just one click, fisheries enforcement authorities anywhere in the world can access an up-to-date, reliable and comprehensive global record of fishing vessels involved in pirate fishing." added Josua Turaganivalu, Oceans Campaigner also present at the meeting.

Mr Toribau said with little capacity or resources, fisheries authorities, particularly in developing countries, have nowhere to turn when a vessel enters their waters or ports.  The first step in getting the market to reject pirate-caught fish is to ensure that buyers can identify the ships and companies to avoid.

Greenpeace advocates the creation of an effectively enforced network of marine reserves, protecting 40 per cent of the world's oceans-with regulated, sustainable fishing in other areas-as the long term solution to overfishing and the recovery of marine life in our overexploited oceans.