Fishermen hit out at Greenpeace: "They sought confrontation and got the confrontation they wanted"
Caught tuna was destined for Maltese fishfarms
The Federation of Maltese Aquaculture Producers has hit out at Greenpeace over an incident yesterday which saw a Greenpeace activist injured by a grappling hook during a protest against tuna fishing.
The incident occurred when the activists attempted to disrupt a fishing operation and tried to free the fish already caught and which was destined to go to Maltese fishfarms.The injured activist is being treated in Malta (see separate story)
The federation condemned the use of violence but pointed out that the incident occurred because the activists intervened in a legitimate fishing operation. The fishermen, it said, had done nothing to provoke attention from the activists except by carrying out their legitimate business.
"The activists’ effort against the fishermen cannot be considered other than violent and illegal. There is no other way to define a concerted and well planned action which seeks to prevent another from carrying out his lawful activities," the federation said.
"The activists cannot have expected the fishermen not to resist the attack; they sought confrontation and got the confrontation they wanted."
The federation noted that a French patrol boat which was in the vicinity called the activists by radio and commanded them to desist because the fishing expedition was being conducted legally and was being monitored properly; the activists did not obey the command and, according to press releases issued by Greenpeace, they insisted that they didn’t care whether the fish was being caught legally.
"The Greenpeace activity was violent and unlawful. They alone bear the blame for the consequences of yesterday’s incidents."
The federation pointed out that the Blue Fin Tuna fishing carried out this year by the fleets of the European Union is highly regulated and sustainable. All purse seiners trawlers carry international observers on board and are subjected to an unprecedented level of controls. The purse seiners are required to fish according to scientifically set quotas and the available season has been reduced to only 30 days. This year’s season, which ends on the 14th June, has so far been marred by bad weather in this area of the Mediterranean.
The federation urged Greenpeace to give up its confrontational stance and t"o return to an honest and open discussion on the continuation of the fishery in a sustainable manner."
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ANDREW CACHIA
Jun 7th 2010, 20:44
Popular swimming destinations such as St Paul's bay have become almost inaccessible due to the shocking amount of pollution which these farms emit!
although there are regulations in place they are blatently being ingnored such as:
Ensure that the farm.
- Is at a depth of between 30 and 45 metres.
- Is located in a well-flushed area.
- Occupies less than 50,000 m2 of surface area.
- Is located clear of posidonia beds/meadows.
- Has minimal visual impact.
- Minimizes impact with other users such as tourism, navigation.
- Possesses an adequate land base with minimal impact on the foreshore.
im sure that you will agree with me that the maltese fishfarms do not coinside with these regulations.
Graham Crocker
Jun 7th 2010, 15:13
Yeah I guess if Greenpeace started killing innocent people, then nobody would like them anymore.
As far as I know they haven't killed anyone, so whats your point?
David Caruana
Jun 7th 2010, 11:58
To all of you who are saying that fishing for tuna is legal:
Who said that Laws are just?!?! These big fishing companies are allowed to catch bluefin tuna because the Japanese lobby with their dirty tactics managed to win against the vote that would have placed Atlantic bluefin tuna to the United Nation's list of endangered species at the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species (CITES) in Doha, Qatar.
It's a clear case that Corporate needs won over Environmental needs, so I totally disregard and have no respect at any law that protects these criminals who want to deplete our tuna stocks.
All of you who are defending the fishing companies, please do at least remember your words when our newspapers will one day publish the news "Bluefin Tuna officially extinct". I therefore thank you in advance for supporting these criminals!
George Poitier
Jun 6th 2010, 22:27
In other words, they are going to kill the chicken that lays the golden egg.
B Lanzon
Jun 6th 2010, 11:40
Mr S. Camilleri, ahjar ma thallatx il hass mal=ba** int. Dawn is- sajjieda kienu qed jistaghdu bil- kwota legali li inghatat lilhom. Il Green Peace ghandhom kull dritt jipprotestaw, pacifikament imma, mhux billi jaghmlu l hsara. Bir- ragunament tieghek, jekk ghall- argument jien ma naqbilx mat-tipjip ghax jaghmel il- hsara, mela ghandi dritt min ibiegh is sigaretti nidhol u nahraqlu l- hanut halli ma jbieghx sigaretti. Din l- azzjoni tal Green Peace m'hi xejn inqas minn piracy u il gvernijiet tal- mediterran ghandhom id-dmir li jwaqqfuhom. Kieku dawn in-nies veru ghal gid tal- ambjent jaghmlu, u mhux ghar- riklam, kieku qeghdin jghinu biex tittaffa d-daqqa taz-zejt fil Gulf of Mexico, mhux marru jiddendlu mal- ufficji tal- BP idendlu bandiera. Attention seekers at best, terrorists at worst. Facli twaqqaf lil min jistad legalment, biex twaqqaf lil min jistad illegalment trid il kuragg, dawn qed jaghzlu t-triq facli.
David Caruana
Jun 7th 2010, 11:07
Sur B Lanzon, nispera li tiftakar x'qed tghid meta sa zmien 10-15 il-sena ohra ma jkunx fadal Tonn Blue Fin fl-ibhra taghna. Il-hasra li uliedi ha jbatu minhabba nies bhalek. Jekk int qed tissaportja lil azjendi li jaqbdu t-tonn - int hati daqshom!
J. Debono
Jun 6th 2010, 08:44
The irony of it all is that Greenpeace are actually protecting these fishermen's job!
I cannot understand the fact that many people are quite happy to make a quick buck today, even if their method will make their pot of gold extinct!
This is what's happening!
What will happen when there is no more tuna in the sea?
I hope they will not ask the Government for compensation!!
A. Borg
Jun 6th 2010, 06:09
Don't worry,in a few years time Greenpeace will not need to intervene again as there will be no tuna left.
Joseph Calleja
Jun 5th 2010, 23:01
If this was controlled and sustainable fishing, than Greenpeace should have encouraged it and not head to attack them! I cannot understand what these activists are really promoting at this stage when they seem to have crossed the line of legality. Is it; no over fishing, sustainable fishing or rather no fishing at all! This article clearly points out that such fishing is Sustainable and Highly Regulated by the EU. Also, we would be mistaken if we fail to point out that Greenpeace has done a very good gob and has a good reputation as a guardian of nature against abuse. However, Greenpeace better watches out in keep its reputation of fighting abuse rather that of turning against the law. If in the future they intend to keep on insisting in disregarding the fact that the fish is being caught legally than, I think that they should better think of changing their name. Therefore, the next time Greenpeace decides to attack some lawful operation, better thinks’ it twice, for the simple reason that it would be damaging the good reputation it upholds as a pressure group, consequently its message wouldn’t be given any value but automatically disregard by authorities.
joe muscat
Jun 5th 2010, 21:38
the fishermen here are right, this was a legal activity and greenpeace can`t decide to interrupt legal fishing, so they asked for trouble and trouble they had, as simple as that.
Michael Balzan
Jun 5th 2010, 19:33
So Many or few say Greenpeace are doing a good job. So with the same reasoning one should also say that who exploded planes, placed bombs in cars, etc.. for a just cause, is also doing a good job.
S. Camilleri
Jun 5th 2010, 23:05
Thallatx il-hass mal-b*** ..
The Tuna in the sea does not belong to anyone so if these so called fisherman have a right to scoop it up like there is no tomorrow, it is perfectly acceptable for Greenpeace to try to disrupt this activity and release these fish. Fishing for tuna in the present manner must become as tough for fishermen as is fishing for whales or slaughtering fur seals.
Joshua Abdilla
Jun 6th 2010, 11:05
@ S. Camilleri fishing activities and the amounts of tuna caught by these vessels are regulated by appointed bodies and by the states themselves.
There is no need for a hero NGO to attempt making rough justice as they please.
If the appointed bodies give right to fishermen to go out and fish, then who is Greenpeace to put themselves above European law and make justice?
Also the tuna is managed by a very severe control scheme which aims at protecting the species exactly from its over-exploitation to critical levels. As you probably are not aware, the allowed maximum catches per member state which are set by the regulatory bodies have been designed to decrease yearly. This means that the impact on the tuna stocks decrease as a result, giving opportunity to the stock to recover.
Also, I hate to break this to you, but the resource which you said belongs to nobody even if its already in the vessel's net ... simply because the tuna is in the vessel's net it makes part of the vessel's catch.
Jean Claude Micallef
Jun 5th 2010, 18:57
Greenpeace have been essential for conservation and protection of animals but seems they need a good lesson in protecting and conserve others' jobs!
One shouldn't just condemn the reactive shooting but the unethical and insensitive way Green Peace has acted.
Franco Farrugia
Jun 5th 2010, 19:34
It matters not whether jobs are secured or not, when the future of the blue planet is at stake, Jean Claude. Jobs come second, when it is a question of the natural environment, and for one reason: once spoilt and damaged, that natural environment will never get back to its original state! And then, what would be the worth of those 'jobs'?
Angelica Bossert
Jun 5th 2010, 18:05
The sad thing is that even before it's fished to extinction, Atlantic blue fin tuna will probably be one of the casualties of the unfolding BP oil spill disaster. Then the "fishermen" won't have to hassle with Greenpeace because the extinction of this species is even closer than we like to admit.
Joseph N Attard
Jun 5th 2010, 18:01
Cars pollute, right? When properly licenced, they are legal, right? So according to a lot of the comments below, it is allright to block the roads and disrupt traffic, because cars pollute, right?
C Cassar
Jun 5th 2010, 17:39
This is typical of the fisherman in these waters - including all ofthe Maltese ones. They don't care whatsoever about the environment. They constantly take what is not theirs. They only think of their own pockets and the next day out fishing. They never think about next year or of anyone else thats affected by their greedy actions.
Just look at the mess made around Spinola Bay. Diesel washed straight out of boats into the bay, rubbish and fishing gear taking up much of the public right of way around the area.Undersized fish dumped in the bay. Constant garbage blowing around and left dumped from their boat 'renovations'. Huge patches of oil from their badly maintaned vehicles on the relatively newly laid walkway around the bay. Daily illegal parking in the same area by their cars/trucks/vans. They make the whole place an eysore. The local council should give them a notice period of a month to clear off allowing the place to be returned to the majority who live and visit the area.
ANDREW CACHIA
Jun 5th 2010, 16:50
legal or not, the fish being caught today are not going to be available tomorrow if they don't stop fishing them immediately!
http://endoftheline.com/
E.SciclunaCamilleri
Jun 5th 2010, 16:46
Being legal is beside the point here. The whole issue revolves round the fact that blue fin tuna is being fished to extinction. Greenpeace wanted to catapult the event on the media and raise public awarnes Grappling the activist has made that possible. Greenpeace got what they wanted.
Klaus M. Pedersen
Jun 5th 2010, 16:32
If the version of events as described in the article is correct, then I am very disappointed in Greenpeace for having brought shame to a good cause.
S. Camilleri
Jun 5th 2010, 17:11
Of course that's how these harvesters (they are NOT fisherman) would talk. The strip the sea of its fish and then hide behind a facade of legality. We need more actions like those of Greenpeace.
Denis Catania
Jun 5th 2010, 16:16
To be an activist is one thing to become a criminal is another thing. Greenpeace are not above the law.
G.Debono
Jun 5th 2010, 16:35
Denis Catania. There are many rights you enjoy today, because someone in the past, did like Greepeace but on different things. Do not discount the value of Greenpeace, unless you're one of the guys who does not care about how the environment around us is going to hell unless people risk their lives and take a stand. If we leave up to the operators, theres not once inch on this island that wont be built up, not one fish species living in the sea, not one bird flying in the sky, not one industry which does not churn out hugely toxis funes and not one industry that does not dump toxis chemicals at chadwick lakes and the sort.
Get the gist? Then support organisations like Greenpeace and give the environment a future to be savoured by your children, grand children and great grand children.
Denis Catania
Jun 5th 2010, 16:57
@G Debono:They still have to do it in a proper manner. There is no excuse for breaking the law. There are peaceful ways to try to change the/a law.The computer you use, the cars you drive, the mattress you sleep on and the plastics you drink from and or use and that's just a few things, does more damage than legal fishing. Look around your house and see how you too are harming the environment.
Note: If you live in a cave and are a vegetarian (just being a vegetarian is not enough) I take back my comment directed at you and please accept my apology.
steven smith
Jun 5th 2010, 19:17
so in other word u want us to ride on bikes and stop using electric........i.e go back to the dark ages then where would your job be
im all for conserving energy etc but people need jobs
G.Debono
Jun 6th 2010, 09:25
Denis Catanaia
We have to start from somewhere. What you are saying here is that since we sleep on a mattress and use plastics at home, then let people destroy things because 2 wrongs make a right. This is complaicent talk for me.
In the US it is legal to murder convicts of a certain sentence. In Japan it is legal to hunt for whales (for scientific reasons of course - haha). Mr. Catania, there maybe a lot of things which are legal in certain countries. It does not make them right.
Greenpeace is trying to stir up awareness by risking their own life, to make people aware of the destruction that is happening out there (Legal destruction and probably some of it illegal as well). As i said, what you enjoy today, was not there in the past and it was as you said, legal not to be there.
Joe Grech
Jun 5th 2010, 16:15
@ The ''The Federation of Maltese Aquaculture Producers'' - Please refrain from fishing tuna to extinction the way you (and other so called Federations) are doing!
You might also consider stopping Aquaculture practice completely because you are irremediably polluting Malta's seas. The really scandalous point one needs to hammer out is that you are ruining Maltese waters to fish tuna which you then export to Japan....how's that for utter selfishness? Stop putting Financial Gain before all else! Act responsibly!
ANDREW CACHIA
Jun 5th 2010, 17:10
Joe, I cant agree with you more, being an avid diver as well as a keen sailor, I have grown to love the sea and it hurts to see it be abused in this way! i can confirm all that you have said, over the past few years the amount of biodiversity as well as the clarity if the surrounding waters has diminished at an alarming rate. Popular swimming destinations such as St Paul's bay have become almost inaccessible due to the shocking amount of pollution which these farms emit!
although there are regulations in place they are blatently being ingnored such as:
Ensure that the farm.
- Is at a depth of between 30 and 45 metres.
- Is located in a well-flushed area.
- Occupies less than 50,000 m2 of surface area.
- Is located clear of posidonia beds/meadows.
- Has minimal visual impact.
- Minimizes impact with other users such as tourism, navigation.
- Possesses an adequate land base with minimal impact on the foreshore.
im sure that you will agree with me that the maltese fishfarms do not coinside with these regulations.
Franco Farrugia
Jun 5th 2010, 16:05
The country is really going to the dogs. The very words of the 'Federation'-of-sorts are an indicator as to the caveman mentality that permeates in and around these kind of people, these workers. So, would they have stopped at nothing in this 'confrontation'? We are here talking about Greenpeace and its activities - these cavemen, and those who support them, need to read a thing or two about the activities of Greenpeace and the importance that this NGO has. It is internationally recognised that Greenpeace was behind many of the ending of atrocities that were carried out to the natural environment. Of course, there will be those who continually write against this and that, that has to do with the natural environment, who will blast Greenpeace out of the water with their words! We have grown used to such comments - a few people are all too frequent in their condemnation of anything good and positive that other people, altruistic individuals who are without an agenda, try to do in order to protect our blue planet. But these cavemen don't give one iota to any of this, as long as they keep their stomachs, their pockets and somewhere else, content!
Johnny Xerri
Jun 5th 2010, 17:32
Look who is talking about cavemen!!
Remember this:
'If I had been the LSA, I would not need MUT's condemnation and the Police to investigate. I would have taught that warden a lesson in good manners, myself.'
You still have not enlightened us as to how you would have thought the LSA a lesson in manners
Franco Farrugia
Jun 5th 2010, 19:36
Once a caveman, always a caveman, even if you have Internet at your disposal - it is the mentality. You can never throw mud at me - I am too good.
Johnny Xerri
Jun 5th 2010, 20:40
I never slung mud on you, you did that by yourself with your comment.
Readers can judge if the cavemen is the one who practices his activity legally or else the environmental gurus and machos who override laws.