A large purse seiner comes dangerously close alongside the Greenpeace flagship Rainbow Warrior in an intimidating move.Greenpeace’s flagship the Rainbow Warrior is prevented from docking in the port of Marseille, as the port authority revoked its previous permission to dock. Some 20 industrial tuna fishing boats block the environmental ship’s path to the quayside.
Early this morning the Rainbow Warrior sent out a distress call
after being boarded by crew from tuna ships who then tied their
ships to the Rainbow Warrior. A further 10 boats surrounded the
Rainbow Warrior, virtually blocking off all access to the ship. The
fisherman also used water hoses against the Rainbow Warrior and its
crew.
The Prefecture Maritime has now despatched a tug boat, the
Abielle Flanders, and issued a statement to Greenpeace saying: "I
confirm that I have decided that the Rainbow Warrior will be towed
as soon as possible by the ETV Abeille Flanders, from her mooring
in Marseille. This operation is being financed by French
authorities."
"Greenpeace is a peaceful organisation. In the interests of
decreasing the tensions we are accepting to be towed under the
instructions of the Prefecture Maritime," said Mike Finken, the
Captain of the Rainbow Warrior.
"However, we do not believe we are legally obliged to do so -
the Rainbow Warrior has broken no laws and the source of the
tension is coming from the French tuna fisherman . The Rainbow
Warrior is capable of leaving under its own propulsion and as we
made clear yesterday it had planned to do so at 6pm today to set
sail for Spain to continue Greenpeace's campaign to raise awareness
of the threats facing the Mediterranean Sea," Said Finken.
The Rainbow Warrior, which was blockaded for most of yesterday
by some 25 vessels on its approach to Marseille, was due to leave
its anchorage point in Marseille today at 18.00 to set sail for
Cartegena in Spain, for the last leg of a three month tour of the
Mediterranean. The tour aims to promote awareness of the threats
facing the Mediterranean Sea, including the plight of the bluefin
tuna stock, which is on the brink of collapse due to overfishing,
and promoting a network of marine reserves.
"The tuna fishermen are out of control on the high seas and now
they are out of control in port," said Karli Thomas of Greenpeace
International on board the Rainbow Warrior.
"These industrial tuna fishermen blockading us need to take
responsibility for their part in the depleted state of the
Mediterranean tuna fishery and look at the bigger picture. They
should support our call for establishment of a network of marine
reserves to bring about a sustainable, healthy and productive
Mediterranean Sea. It is in the long term interests of the
environment and all fishing communities, both in France and the
rest of the Mediterranean," concluded Thomas.
The Defending Our Oceans expedition aims to highlight the
wonders of and the environmental threats to the world's oceans and
call for the establishment of marine reserves covering 40 % of the
world's oceans.
Greenpeace is an independent campaigning organisation that uses
non-violent creative confrontation to expose global environmental
problems to drive solutions that are essential to a green and
peaceful future.
Sign up as Ocean Defender at oceans.greenpeace.org
Other contacts: Further information: On board the Rainbow Warrior:Karli Thomas, Oceans Campaigner, Greenpeace International, +871 130 2412Francois Provost, Oceans Campaigner, Greenpeace France, +871 130 2412Spain:Michael Kessler, Greenpeace International Communications, +34 660 637 053
Exp. contact date: 2006-09-24 00:00:00