Feature story - 26 June, 2006
Our activists on board the Rainbow Warrior in the Mediterranean have been threatened by pirate fishermen wielding machetes and attempting to board the ship. Our crew was confiscating the huge illegal 'wall of death' driftnets that have been banned by the EU and the UN.
Greenpeace activists aboard the Rainbow Warrior confiscate an illegal driftnet found at night off the Southern Italian coast.
Fishing pirates from two separate vessels who were using illegal
driftnets off the Southern Italian coast threatened Greenpeace
activists on two occasions in the same evening as they attempted to
confiscate the illegal nets, measuring around 15 kilometres and 15
metres deep. Crew on the fishing vessels hurled objects, brandished
huge machete-style knives, and in one instance attempted to board
the Greenpeace ship.
Update: One of the driftnets confiscated by the Rainbow
Warrior crew was used at a Greenpeace protest in the Fontana di
Trevi, Rome. Photo
here.
Walls of death
Driftnets, known as "walls of death", were banned years ago by
the United Nations and the European Union, but are still being used
to catch a dwindling stock of swordfish. They are also responsible
for regularly trapping and killing thousands of whales and dolphins
in their path. In the past week, authorities have rounded up
hundreds of kilometres of the illegal nets in the Mediterranean,
illustrating their continued widespread use, despite the bans.
To add insult to injury, the first vessel to confront the
Rainbow Warrior late last night had already received 28,000 Euros
in grants to change its fishing gear, but they were still using the
destructive and outdated equipment.
Marine reserves now!
Luckily, a few machetes are not enough to scare off our
activists. The pirates may have tried to threaten us, but the real
threat from their illegal activities is to the Mediterranean and
it's marine life.
What really needs to happen is action from governments - to
enforce the driftnet ban and establish a network of marine reserves
protect threatened marine life, replenishing the sea's fish
stocks. The Rainbow Warrior will keep working in the Mediterranean
to defend our oceans, as the Esperanza travels on towards Egypt to
continue her expedition.
Help us convince governments to act - sign up as
an Ocean Defender!
Read
more about 'tuna trouble' in the Mediterranean
Updates from the Warrior
Read updates from the crew on board the Rainbow Warrior as they work to defend our oceans