African fishermen meet EU commissioner
Fishermen Harouna Ismael Lebaye from Mauritania (left) and Ameth Wade of Senegal shake hands with EU fisheries commissioner Maria Damanaki.
The fishermen, who will meet EU fisheries commissioner Maria Damanaki and other politicians (see programme below), have each seen their catches plummet and the survival of their communities threatened as a direct result of unfair competition from European trawlers.
As European fish stocks decline rapidly (the European Commission recognises that almost nine out of ten fish stocks are overfished), the EU’s industrial fishing fleets are increasingly moving into foreign waters and depriving local communities of a major food source, pushing many into poverty and some into crime.
Ameth, from Senegal, Ismael, from Mauritania, and Amaro, from Cape Verde (see bio sheet below), are part of a Greenpeace campaign giving African fishermen a voice to speak out against the abuses of overfishing to politicians who will play a part in the reform of EU fishing rules over the next three years.
Ismael said: “There are just too many boats out there. Ten years ago I just went out for the day and got my catch. Now I have to go much further for as long as two weeks and still my catch is declining.”
Greenpeace EU fisheries policy director Saskia Richartz said: “Europe is rapidly running out of fish because of reckless overfishing, so now it’s exporting its plunder to the developing world, with devastating consequences on the environment and local communities. The reform of EU fishing rules will be crucial to reduce fishing pressure in foreign waters and in Europe. European governments must put an end to overfishing and start by taking the most destructive vessels off the water.”
The EU catches about 1.2 million tonnes of fish per year outside its waters – almost one quarter of its total catch. There are vessels from 14 EU countries with fishing interests in foreign countries, but over two thirds of these 300 ships fly the Spanish flag (67% of the total) and 14% are from France.
Some of the world’s largest vessels operate in waters off West Africa. These factory trawlers are larger than a football field (over 140m in length) and use large hoovers to suck great quantities of fish out of the sea. The fish is then processed, packed and frozen on board. Most of these ships are operated by companies from the Netherlands, Britain, France and Denmark.
African Voices Tour – Brussels EU leg schedule
2PM: press briefing with fisheries experts and fishermen – Greenpeace EU: 199 Rue Belliard (Schuman)
3.15PM: photo opportunity – fishermen visit local fishmonger – 213 Chaussée de Wavre, Ixelles (near European Parliament)
5PM: photo opportunity – fishermen meet fisheries commissioner Maria Damanaki – European Commission (Berlaymont)
Useful links
Media briefing: Stolen fish - the impact of EU fisheries outside Europe
Report: How Africa is feeding Europe - EU (over)fishing in West Africa
African fishermen bio sheet
African Voices Tour diary