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Greenpeace activists take action against US tuna purse seiner, Cape Finisterre, part of the overfishing problem in the Pacific.
Enlarge imageGreenpeace has taken action against the US purse seiner, Cape Finisterre, in a pocket of international waters between Pacific Island countries known as the Pacific Commons.
Activists painted the side of the vessel with the words 'Tuna overkill' and held a banner reading 'Marine reserves now'. The fishing vessel was asked to leave the area immediately.
Lagi Toribau, Greenpeace oceans campaigner on board the Esperanza, delivered the message via radio to the U.S. purse seiner captain. The Cape Finisterre finished pulling in its massive purse seine net and then left the area.
How do purse seiners catch tuna?
Purse seine vessels surround schools of fish with curtain-like nets to catch tuna. A rope along the bottom of the net is pulled like a drawstring and the whole catch is hauled onboard. A purse seine net can be over one hundred metres long and catch up to 3000 tons of fish in one trip.
Taking all the fish
About 60 per cent of the world’s tuna stocks come from the Pacific, and scientists believe that two key species – bigeye and yellowfin – are in danger of becoming overfished.
To help stop this, Greenpeace is touring the Western Pacific Ocean in the Esperanza, gathering evidence of illegal and excessive tuna fishing practices.
