Feature story - October 3, 2008
Our oceans are being plundered by pirates. Illegal, unreported and unregulated fishing – also known as "pirate fishing" - has become a global scourge. From international waters around the world, to the islands of the South Pacific and the coastal communities of West Africa, fisheries are in crisis.
Pirate fishing can be stopped. Governments can outlaw flags of convenience and refuse entry to fishing and supply vessels.
Pirates are pulling in billions of dollars of fish that
rightfully belongs to coastal communities or falls beyond any one
country's waters. Pirate fishing affects communities that cannot
afford to be robbed of their livelihoods, leaves the marine
environment bruised and battered, and undermines food security and
attempts at sustainable management.
Roll call
Official lists of pirate vessels are limited in the information
they contain and don't include the names of the big companies
behind these pirate fishing vessels. It's time for the truth: for
fish purchasers, retailers, and the public to see who's behind
pirate fishing, and for ship owners to start taking responsibility
in their role. Companies often have illegal and legal vessels
fishing side by side. It is time they pay the real price for piracy
and have all their operations held accountable when caught
pirate-fishing. We've launched an online database of fishing
vessels involved in illegal, unreported and unregulated (IUU)
fishing, and the companies who own them. Check it out.
Our IUU blacklist is the first independent record of fishing
vessels, support vessels and companies involved in pirate fishing.
It includes independent observations from the legal fishing
industry, government authorities, and first-hand evidence from
Greenpeace and other NGOs who have recorded the activities of these
vessels and companies at sea and in ports around the world. The
new database supplements the existing IUU database that was
launched in 2007, which contained only those pirate fishing vessels
officially blacklisted by regional fisheries management
organisations and governments.
Greenpeace is urging all retailers and seafood traders to ensure
they do not purchase pirate-caught fish and, as a first step,
ensure that they do not trade with companies listed as operators of
pirate vessels.
Take action!
Report a pirate fishing vessel to our database.
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