Pacific bigeye and yellowfin tuna are in decline, and only by
taking the bold steps of closing loopholes for illegal, unregulated
and unreported (IUU) fishing and restricting fishing to sustainable
levels will the commission be able to shift management towards a
more ecosystem-based approach, and create large no-take areas that
will protect all marine life of the Pacific ocean.
The call by Greenpeace and local NGOs (1) to participating
countries was made as the 6th regular session of the WCPFC started
today with a traditional Polynesian canoe ceremony.
"Pacific Island Countries have agreed to (2) support the closure
of four large areas of international waters that lie in between the
Pacific Island Countries. These areas act as a loophole for pirate
fishing and are also rich in biodiversity," said Lagi Toribau of
Greenpeace Australia Pacific.
"Closing these areas to all fishing would protect the largest
stretch of ocean
in history, immediately turn the Commission into a leading
global conservation body and demonstrate that fishing nations are
serious about saving tuna and their own fishing industries."
Greenpeace recently completed an eight-week expedition to
pockets of the high seas(3) it has proposed for marine reserves,
where it recorded legal and illegal over-fishing activities(4).
"These areas are especially vulnerable to plundering by large
long-line fleets originating from Taiwan, Korea and Japan, and
evidence that they contribute to regional pirate fishing activities
keeps piling up," said Sari Tolvanen of Greenpeace
International.
"Urgent action to halt overfishing and stop the decline of
Pacific bigeye and yellowfin tuna is needed."
Despite calls from scientists to reduce catches since 2001, an
all-time record high catch was hauled out of the Pacific just last
year. Fleet capacity was growing and fishing techniques were
becoming more efficient, leading to a far more rapid depletion of
tuna fisheries than ever before.
"The rush to pluck the last tuna from the Pacific must be
halted, and fishing effort in the region halved immediately to
ensure sustainability and long-term economic potential. Tuna is the
oil of the Pacific and its life line, and we cannot afford to let
this resource and our futures go theway of the bluefin," concluded
Toribau.
Greenpeace is also calling on the Commission to agree to a full
ban on transferring fish catches at sea, a practice that
facilitates pirate fishing, and to agree to a full ban on the use
of Fish Aggregation Devices (FADs). The devices, in combination
with purse seine fishing, facilitate the capture of vast amounts of
juvenile tuna and threaten endangered marine life such as sharks
and turtles.
Greenpeace is campaigning for a global network of fully
protected marine reserves, covering 40% of our oceans. They are
essential to ensure clean and healthy oceans and protect marine
life from overfishing and habitat destruction. Healthy oceans also
play a vital role in building resilience against the devastating
effects of climate change.
Other contacts: Sari Tolvanen, Greenpeace International Campaigner in Papeete, +31655125480
Lagi Toribau, Pacific Oceans Team Leader in Papeete, +679 9370330
VVPR info: Images – Abram Powell, +61 409812641
Exp. contact date: 2009-01-07 00:00:00