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Aerial view of the Chinese pirate vessel Lian Run 14 prior its arrest for fishing illegally inside the Guinean Exclusive Economy Zone EEZ.
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At first light this morning, the Greenpeace helicopter flew over a
group of fishing vessels 60 miles off the coast of Guinea. One was not
on the list of ships authorized to fish. An inflatable boat was
launched from the Greenpeace ship M.Y Esperanza, taking a Guinean Navy
officer and a fisheries inspector with crew from Greenpeace and the
Environmental Justice Foundation on board.
After confirming the ship, the Lian Run No 14 - one of a family of Chinese vessels observed in the area - had no license, the ship was arrested. The Esperanza will now escort her to Conakry and hand her over to officials on shore.
The captain of the Lian Run No 14 claimed documentation was lodged in Las Palmas – the fish laundering capital of the world. In addition, all the boxes being used to pack the stolen fish bore the names of other vessels, proving that even licensed vessels collaborate with the pirates to sell illegally caught fish on the market.
Fish boxes with the names of seven other vessels were found on board the Lian Run No 14, proving how licensed vessels are packing their boxes with illegal catch from the Lian Run No 14.
“The fact that they had boxes on board destined for Europe and claimed to be represented in Las Palmas shows a clear link between the food being stolen from Africa and the fish being served on the dinner tables of Europe,” said Helene Bours of the Environmental Justice Foundation.
Check out the weblog for the latest updates and more great pictures
After confirming the ship, the Lian Run No 14 - one of a family of Chinese vessels observed in the area - had no license, the ship was arrested. The Esperanza will now escort her to Conakry and hand her over to officials on shore.
The captain of the Lian Run No 14 claimed documentation was lodged in Las Palmas – the fish laundering capital of the world. In addition, all the boxes being used to pack the stolen fish bore the names of other vessels, proving that even licensed vessels collaborate with the pirates to sell illegally caught fish on the market.
Fish boxes with the names of seven other vessels were found on board the Lian Run No 14, proving how licensed vessels are packing their boxes with illegal catch from the Lian Run No 14.
“The fact that they had boxes on board destined for Europe and claimed to be represented in Las Palmas shows a clear link between the food being stolen from Africa and the fish being served on the dinner tables of Europe,” said Helene Bours of the Environmental Justice Foundation.
Check out the weblog for the latest updates and more great pictures
