Greenpeace finds 'widespread illegal fishing' for tuna

Greenpeace has documented widespread illegal fishing for tuna off the coast of Malta, although not by Maltese boats.

The Greenpeace flagship Rainbow Warrior returned to Grand Harbour yesterday after five weeks monitoring the activities of bluefin tuna fishing fleets, 70 to 90 miles south of the island.

Greenpeace has found evidence of widespread illegal activity in contravention of the regulations of the International Commission for the Conservation of Atlantic Tunas (ICCAT), according to Greenpeace Spain oceans campaigner Sebastian Losada.

The information gathered by Greenpeace will be sent to the relevant authorities.

This was yet another year where fishing practices had gone out of control, he added.

"It is a mockery that the new management rules agreed by the international community to halt illegal fishing only entered into force two weeks before the fishing season comes to a close. But it is even worse that the rules are not being respected," said Mr Losada.

Since sailing from Malta on May 16, Greenpeace has monitored several ports and airports and documented the activity of Tunisian, Italian and French vessels operating in the area, as well as a multinational fleet of tug boats and support vessels taking part in operations linked to the bluefin tuna farming industry.

Greenpeace could report, Mr Losada said, that the use of spotter planes to find tuna schools was still common, despite being banned under the new bluefin tuna recovery plan agreed by ICCAT.

The Rainbow Warrior documented the fishing activities of three Italian purse seine vessels surrounded by spotter planes during the entire fishing operation.

It also found several Tunisian purse seine ships operating without a licence. These vessels were not included in the ICCAT register of vessels authorised to fish for tuna in the region.

It seems that the transhipment of fish was common, said Greenpeace. This was, in fact, one of the main methods used to launder illegal catches.

Oceans campaigner aboard Rainbow Warrior, Francois Provost pointed out that the plan agreed by ICCAT countries allocated quotas at twice the level recommended by scientists.

"Greenpeace is demanding an immediate halt to bluefin tuna fishing, a management plan that is in line with scientific advice, and the creation of a network of fully protected marine reserves to protect the Mediterranean Sea," he said.