Greenpeace will hand over the keys to the lock chaining the
vessels Red, Caribe, Brites and
Aveirense to the dockside to the port authorities of Aveiro.
The vessels are owned by Grupo Silva Vieira, and all have track
records of involvement in pirate fishing - IUU(1), including fishing without a flag
or legal quota, using illegal gear, using multiple identities, and
other breaches of international regulations.
Today's action comes just a few weeks after Greenpeace
International launched its 'IUU
blacklist', an international online database of vessels
involved in pirate fishing, and the companies that own them(2). All four ships chained today, as
well as their owner, are included in the Greenpeace blacklist.
The Red - formerly known as Joana, Kabou and
Lootus - is also officially blacklisted by the North-East Atlantic
Fisheries Commission (NEAFC)(3) and the EU. As a Contracting
Party of NEAFC, Portugal must adhere to the conditions imposed on
blacklisted ships, including refusal to provide services and
landing rights.
"It is outrageous that pirate vessels are still receiving
services in European harbours and are able to continue fishing
illegally, despite current legislation," said Farah Obaidullah,
Greenpeace International Oceans Campaigner. "The fact that a vessel
blacklisted by the EU has received docking permission and services
demonstrates the lack of political will by the Portuguese
authorities to tackle pirate fishing."
Greenpeace is calling on governments to live up to their
commitments to combat illegal fishing by ensuring that vessels that
continue to act illegally are scrapped. Governments worldwide must
strengthen the implementation and enforcement of existing
rules.
"The only way to effectively stamp out pirate fishing is through
much better international coordination and information-sharing to
make sure there is greater transparency in the fishing industry,"
Obaidullah continued. "A key part of this will be setting up an
official global online record of fishing vessels that includes a
blacklist of those vessels and companies involved in illegal
practices. Existing regional lists are limited and disparate in the
way they work, and do not allow for a concerted global effort to
fight pirate fishing."
Setting strong international standards for port states through
the adoption of a legally-binding agreement would be another huge
step forward in eliminating the so-called "Ports of Convenience".
Only by ensuring that countries strictly monitor fishing vessels
entering their ports will it be possible to block the flows of
revenue that continue to sustain unscrupulous operators. In
addition, strong market measures to reject pirate-caught fish need
to be introduced, and Greenpeace urges retailers and seafood
traders to ensure that they do not purchase pirate-caught fish or
trade with companies listed as operators of pirate vessels.
Governments must work together to address pirate fishing and
establish a worldwide network of marine reserves to restore fish
stocks. Greenpeace advocates the creation of an effectively
enforced network of marine reserves, protecting 40% of the world's
oceans - with regulated, sustainable fishing in other areas - as
the long-term solution to overfishing and the recovery of marine
life in our overexploited oceans.
Other contacts: Farah Obaidullah, Greenpeace International Oceans Campaigner:
+31 646177538
Beatriz Carvalho, Greenpeace Portugal Oceans Campaigner:
+351 915595340
Isabel Leal, Greenpeace International Communications:
+34 647 241502
For footage, please contact Greenpeace International Video Desk, +31 646197322
For pictures, please contact Daniel Beltra at Greenpeace International Photo Desk, (please note -8 GMT), +1 206 3006511
Notes: (1) Illegal, unreported and unregulated (IUU) fishing - often referred to as "pirate fishing" - is a multi-billion dollar business that seriously undermines all efforts to protect and manage fish stocks, and has a devastating effect on the biodiversity of marine ecosystems already under severe threat by massive global overfishing.
(2) Database of fishing vessels and companies engaged in IUU Fishing: The database includes independent observations from the legal fishing industry, government authorities, and first-hand evidence from Greenpeace and other NGOs that have recorded the activities of these vessels and companies at sea and in ports around the world.
(3) The NEAFC is the body responsible for the management of fishing activities in the North East Atlantic and also has its own database of vessels from non contracting parties that have been observed engaging in IUU.
For further information on these vessels please visit: /international/Global/international/planet-2/binaries/2008/10/portuguese-pirate-vessels.pdf