Activists from the Greenpeace ship, Arctic Sunrise painted 7 floating fish factory trawlers with “PLUNDER!” The vessels all belong to the Dutch Pelagic Freezer Trawler Association (PFA). These vessels are an example of the overcapacity of Europe’s fishing fleet, which can and should be reduced through the current reform process of the EU Common Fisheries Policy (CFP). An improved CFP is Europe’s best chance to rescue our oceans, maintain European fishing industries and guarantee Africa’s food security and economic prosperity through local fishing. For these European vessels to remain economically viable, they need to chase fish in distant waters as far as the Pacific Ocean or West Africa, since stocks in Europe are insufficient.
© Greenpeace / Pierre Gliezes