Media release - September 22, 2006
The Australian government has called on the United Nations to establish a moratorium on unregulated high seas bottom trawl fishing. Greenpeace welcomed this announcement, as Australia joined a growing number of countries demanding that the UN act this year to control this destructive practice in the international waters of the high seas, but urged the United States to take a more proactive stance on the issue.
"We at Greenpeace are delighted that
Australia has come out in favor of a moratorium on the destructive
practice of unregulated high seas bottom trawling. This is a clear
acknowledgement of the negative environmental impacts of this
fishing method on ocean ecosystems, as well as a need for immediate
action and long-term oceans protection and sustainable management,"
said Karen Sack, Greenpeace International Ocean Policy Advisor.
Following three years of calls for
urgent action, the United Nations General Assembly will finally
begin negotiating measures to protect deep-sea marine life on 4-5
October, hopefully leading to the formal adoption of a resolution
in November. Brazil, Chile, the Netherlands, Sweden, Belgium, the
United Kingdom, South Africa, Kenya, Nigeria, Palau, the Federated
States of Micronesia, the Republic of the Marshall Islands and
Vanuatu are among the countries publicly committed to supporting a
UN moratorium.
Scientists have only just begun to
explore the complex worlds deep beneath the surface of the oceans,
discovering new species and ancient coral reefs wherever they look.
Bottom trawling is widely recognized as the most destructive of
fishing methods. Heavily weighted bottom trawls fish and scour our
ocean floors indiscriminately, destroying everything in their
paths. Their use has been compared to clear-cutting a rainforest in
order to catch a few rabbits.
More than 1,500 marine scientists
from over 60 countries have signed a letter in support of an
immediate UN moratorium on high seas bottom trawling.
"The Australian decision to support a
moratorium is noteworthy because some of their fishing vessels are
engaged in this destructive fishing practice," added John Hocevar,
Greenpeace USA Oceans Specialist. "Since no known U.S.-flagged
vessels are currently bottom trawling on the high seas, we expect
the U.S. government to support the moratorium and work with
Australia to secure a strong outcome at the UN over the next two
months. It is time for the U.S. government to leave the sidelines
on this issue, and take action to defend our oceans, since oceans
protection begins on land, this time at the United Nations."
Other contacts: steve.smith@wdc.greenpeace.org
Exp. contact date: 2006-10-22 00:00:00