Video: AFM stops Greenpeace action on tuna cage
Federation to seek legal action against perpetrators
Photo: Ivan Saliba, AFM Air Wing
(Adds government, AFM + FMAP statements)
Greenpeace activists today spent two hours engaged in "non-violent" direct action in an attempt to free endangered bluefin tuna from a large cage bound for a Mediterranean bluefin tuna farm.
The activists said in a statement they met a great deal of resistance, including the firing of flares from the fishing vessel and the use of water cannons by the "Maltese navy".
The Maltese government, however, said that Greenpeace activists aggressively attacked legal activities being carried out by Maltese aquaculture operators.
The AFM said it intervened following a request from a fisherman to prevent Greenpeace vessels from damaging a fish cage being towed by the local vessel Ta’ Mattew, which contained legally-caught blue fin tuna being transported to Maltese ranching operations. The operation took place 22 nautical miles south of Malta.
The Federation of Maltese Aquaculture Producers said they would be calling upon the Commissioner of Police to investigate and take criminal proceedings against the perpetrators.
Greenpeace said the cage contained highly endangered bluefin tuna caught a few days ago by commercial fishing vessels. The activists, in seven inflatable boats, were launched from two Greenpeace ships, the Arctic Sunrise and the Rainbow Warrior.
Greenpeace said it is defending the Mediterranean and its bluefin tuna, 80 per cent of which is estimated to have already been fished out. Greenpeace has been calling for an end to bluefin tuna fishing for years to allow populations to recover to healthy levels.
"Releasing bluefin tuna is the only responsible thing to do, for the future of the fish and the future of our oceans," said Oliver Knowles, Greenpeace International oceans campaigner onboard the Rainbow Warrior.
"Greenpeace will confront any and all parts of the Mediterranean bluefin fishery; the most visible example of how politics and fisheries management have failed our oceans."
While the European Commission may have ordered some large-scale bluefin fishing vessels back to port, any fishing of bluefin continues to push the species to the brink of extinction, he said.
The Maltese government maintained that the Maltese operators’ activities werebeing carried out according to theInternational Commission for the Conservation of Atlantic Tunas and to European Union regulations.
These activities were also being monitored by inspectors from ICCAT and the EU.
The fish in these tuna pens belonging to Maltese operators were caught legally, and made up part of the quotas established by ICCAT.
The FMAP said Greenpeace activists attempted to forcibly take possession of Maltese property.
They thanked the AFM and said their arrival saved the day. The Maltese aauthorities asked Greenpeace to stand down immediately but the latter disobeyed forcing the patrol boats to interpose themselves between the Arctic Sunrise and the cage.
The FMAP said that bluefin fishery carried out this year was highly regulated and sustainable witih the relevant quotas having been set according to scientific study.
All purse seiners involved in the fisheries had international observers on board and were subjected to an unprecedented level of controls to ensure compliance with the rules.
It said that there was nothing peaceful about the attempt to hijack the tuna cage.
“It was unprovoked aggression and the perpetrators refused to obey the orders of the Maltese Armed Forces.
“This attempt can only be defined as criminal and violent and highly irresponsible in that by carrying out these assaults at sea they subject both their militants and innocent workers employed by the fish farms to unacceptable risks.
“They should be condemned without reservation.
“By doing so the activists have committed a number of crimes in Malta and we will be calling upon the Commissioner of Police to investigate and take criminal proceedings against the perpetrators.”
The FMAP said that as Maltese they had the right to demand and expect the intervention of the Maltese authorities when their affairs were carried out legally and in the respect of the law.
“Nobody has the right to take the law in his hands.
“This is a fundamental precept of our way of life and it is certainly not going to be unlawful threats and activities by so-called environmental activists that is going to change it.”
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Melissa Magro
Jul 20th 2010, 21:34
So I see Fish Farms Are Not Entiteld For a Protection From The Goverment (The Navy in This Case) When Some People Who Think They Can Take The Law In There Own Hand ,Just Come Dancing Around And Try To Destroy your Property For Which You Have Worked Hard,
If You Think That the Fish Farms Are makin business your right , But What About GREENPEACE MONEY CRAVING ORGNIZATION ????
Forbes magazine once described it as “a skillfully managed business” with full command of “the tools of direct mail and image manipulation -- and tactics that would bring instant condemnation if practiced by a for-profit corporation.” But Greenpeace has escaped public censure by hiding behind the mask of its “non-profit” status and its U.S. tax exemption
Within 7 years, the organization had footholds in over two dozen countries and a $100 million budget.
enough said ?
S.Zammit
Jun 15th 2010, 15:36
Well done Greenpeace. Keep up the good work in saving our Tuna from EXTINCTION.We need more people like you to protect our environment. Stop catching Tuna legal or not its endangered!
l aquilina
Jun 15th 2010, 21:42
People like YOU should be US!
Mike F Abbot
Jun 15th 2010, 08:16
Does this NOT bother anyone??
'MALTA - Malta’s multi-million euro tuna ranching industry may well be driving the Mediterranean bluefin tuna to the brink of extinction.'
http://www.thefishsite.com/fishnews/7745/maltas-blue-fin-on-brink-of-extinction
Whether you agree with Greenpeace or not - they one of the few doing something about it by bringing it to peoples attention. Without them, this news article would be replaced by more mundane news about any one our ridiculous politicians.
l aquilina
Jun 15th 2010, 16:02
Of course is bothers some of us, but we are all falling victims to complacency and this seems to be the ideal situation for unscurprulous entrepreneurs to operate in. The seed of idealism has not taken ground in the younger generation because their parents are the product of the 80's. We are all immersed in the culture of individualism, limited intervention and walled behind pc screens more defensive from the outside world than our bastions. Some Greenpeace activists are nothing short of the stuff of heros, a quality sadly lacking in this time and place.
malcolm seychell
Jun 14th 2010, 16:51
Arrest these Green Peace activists or else threat them like the Japanese do. They are just acting as pirates.
G Magro
Jun 14th 2010, 23:44
Arrest the fishing of the Bluefin Tuna immediately rather than the Greenpeace activists !! These people are to be admired as they have the guts to expose the unstoppable greed of the human race to an extent of putting many species of animals on the brink of extinction, all in the name of personal gain and money of course. Anyone who is in favour of continuing the fishing of Bluefin tuna knowing that 80% of the fish has been already wiped out, is nothing to be called but an irresponsible and insatiable greedmaster who only sees as far as the tip of his nose. SHAME!
Denis Catania
Jun 14th 2010, 16:46
Arrests must be made and even confiscation of Greenpeace vessels. Greenpeace is not above the law and should be considered as wanted criminals.
Joe Fenech
Jun 15th 2010, 17:55
You're right - but the fisheries, government, multinationals.. ARE ALL above natural laws and are leading to irreversible disaster!
Philip Sultana
Jun 14th 2010, 15:57
In protecting the interests of Maltese companies, the AFM is doing what other developed countries would do. Greenpeace has no authority to interfere in legitimate business to the detriment of both the companies concerned and Malta. Bear in mind, that Maltese companies contribute to the economy through employment and taxes ... Greenpeace are bent on denying us this right.
Joe Fenech
Jun 14th 2010, 15:17
Says it all: http://www.thefishsite.com/fishnews/7745/maltas-blue-fin-on-brink-of-extinction
Ivan Portanier
Jun 14th 2010, 13:41
Mr. Anastasi. You are right. Greenpeace did not act with violence but turned themselves into pirates of the sea which is an illegal act punishable with imprisonment. Whoever defends himself and his property against pirates is acting within the law. If you think that it is illegal to protect your property against thieves please tell me where you live so i can come and cart all your property away, legally.
Antonio Anastasi
Jun 14th 2010, 14:29
Actually Mr.Portanier, it may surprise you that these type of demonstration are not acts of piaracy, nor are they illegal as right to peacefull positive action is within our rights. This was only resorted to when all else failed.
To use your methaphore, If sombody were to entre my house and I were to use violence to defend my property, I will be prosecuted.
If a mugger approaches me in the street and I defend myself causing undue harm, I am also liable, and, if the guy were to fall and hit his head causing his death because of my action I am prosecuted for voluntary or involuntary manslaughter.
The viloence used by the fishermen was over and above the force needed to defend there livlihood.
Ramming watercrafts, shooting rockets in the direction of helicopters, throwing grappling hooks causing bodily injury, sinking seacrafts manned by human beings ARE all acts of violence over and beyond what the situation would demand, what defence of property would demand.
I am not sure if you infact saw the video where a 30M cabin cruiser is ramming a 3M inflateable with 5 people on board.
Antonio Anastasi
Jun 14th 2010, 16:11
The traditional Tuna fishing industry which was a sustainable form of fishing has been threatened by the competition from the unsustainable fishing being done in the interest of the tuna fattening farms in Malta and elsewhere, a practice which by ALL statistics has decimated the bluefin tuna population by 80% to 90%. This has put the livlihood of the traditional tuna fishermen at risk. I have a lot of respect for fishermen and the risks they have to face in an unsure profession as they have chosen but if they do not stop the fishing NOW they will not have any future as fishermen. This can be seen in what happened to many of the fisheries around the world. Quite a few countires have listened to GreenPeace and WWF and stopped the tuna fishing. Why can't we do what is right for the futre of the fishing industry. I have often dived in the tuna penns and rarely have I seen mature full sized tunas with most of them being less then two meters head to tail, and this from a fish that grows to 5M. Green Peace methods have yielded results, maybe they will here too.
Antonio Anastasi
Jun 14th 2010, 16:25
Marc Janson
Jun 14th 2010, 13:22
Only when the last tree has been cut down,
Only when the last river has been poisoned,
Only when the last fish has been caught,
Then only will you see that money cannot be eaten.
l aquilina
Jun 14th 2010, 15:20
Alas Marc Janson, such is human greed! Some people never have enough property, enough cars, enough luxury, enough food, enough wastage....the cost to the environment and future generations is a small price to pay for all things that they don't really need! That is the lowest form of human nature.
Emanuel Cilia Debono
Jun 14th 2010, 11:28
I admire the efforts of environmentalists to preserve the world's natural heritage; when such efforts are reasonable and within the rule of law . Greenpeace has exceeded all reasonable limits.
The unprovoked attack of a defenseless Maltese fishing vessel (which was acting within its internationally recognized legal rights) is an act of defiance of international law ,whatever the motives behind it. .
Greenpeace has has also shown disregard for the livelihood of Maltese fishermen and their families. It also seems to be ignorantly unaware that the real threat to the tuna species lies elsewhere. The attack becomes even more despicable when one considers that the organization may have selected Malta to stage a bullying attempt to achieve what it has failed to achieve so far in international fora by negotiation and discussion across the table .
Well done AFM for protecting the interests of our country and of our countrymen. We are proud of you.
J. Borg
Jun 14th 2010, 12:02
Maltese fishermen Mr. Diacono???
By putting the words into action Greenpeace are actually striving to protect the livelihood of REAL Maltese fishermen and their families.
It is the fat cats who own the tuna farms and eradicating the tuna stocks that will end up killing the livelihood of Maltese and other nations traditional fishermen!
It seems some are too oblivious or to greedy to see the real picture with along-term perspective....
Wilfrid Buttigieg
Jun 14th 2010, 10:30
This footage confirms the information received recently from a full time fisherman who was boasting how they find loop holes to beat the system and EU limits when catching tuna.
From his comments it was clear the he did not care about tomorrow, he was only interested in making the biggest buck possible today.
No wonder that Green peace reacted just a few weeks later, some fisherman are like hunters they are slaves to their instincts and lack a long term conservation plan, to the detriment of the species.
I do not believe that Green peace action is taken without having a sound basis of evidence which backs their action.
Legal issues are also important but this is also a matter of conservation and a battle against the greed and selfishness of a few businessmen versus life in all it's richness diversity.
victor rodenas
Jun 14th 2010, 10:26
if those bluefin tuna(caught a few days ago) where caught during the open season,then this time greenpeace are in the wrong........question,..do the north african fisherman catch blue fin tuna ?...I suggest that greenpeace activicts will wear bullet proof vests if they intend to stop them,their patrol boats (gunboats) over there ,do not shoot water cannons.....those who are a bit old still remember what happened when Malta was about to drill for oil in the sea and the libyans forced us to stop........or else.
Ivan Portanier
Jun 14th 2010, 10:18
Does anybody of those supporting Greenpeace have close relatives working for a Tuna Farm? I don't think so. Any illegal action on the part of Greenpeace will put the jobs of Maltese employed by these Tuna Farms in jeopardy and their families will suffer enormous hardship as practically all of them have mortgages to pay and young children and wives to support. To those that are saying that Greenpeace should take the law in their own hands i would say, how about the crew of the Tuna Farms do the same to protect their employment and arm their boats with cannons and blow the activists out of the sea.
Joe Cassar
Jun 14th 2010, 10:45
Mr Portanier, it is more likely that the jobs will be lost when the last tuna ends up in a Japanses sushi bar. You have a very short-sighted view
Antonio Anastasi
Jun 14th 2010, 10:59
It is a given, a proven statistical fact, that in a few years time there will be NO bluefin tuna to fish, to pay for the mortages, the education, the medication and all those things that go with responsible parenthood.
The loss of these giants of the sea, will mean a drastic change in the hard working fishermen's standard of living.
With all this in mind one would have thought that the tuna industry would have enough forethought to follow those countries that have in fact called there ships to port ,and are to stay there till stocks are deemed to be sustainable.
I find it quite sad that some people writing comments are refering to Greenpeace demonstration as illegal, this when no violence is attempted on the fishermen other than distruption of activities and attempted release of the tunas, while turning a blind eye to the two NGO boats sunk, hooked protester flares shot, and attempted murder by ramming occupied inflatables with hardboats.If these acts of violence were done with a car, the driver would be prosecuted.
This attitude is what defines us a a mediocare people who favor viloence which is showing its head far too often
Isabella Peresso Fiorentino
Jun 14th 2010, 21:30
Ivan Portanier - The people who own the tuna pen in question, i.e Ta Mattew, are not humble people struggling to make a living.
Your solution to control the activists with "canons to blow them out of the sea" goes to show what a violent mentality you and your like seem to have.
What a pity Greenpeace weren't successful in releasing the fish this time round.
Charles Sammut
Jun 14th 2010, 09:22
Dear Greenpeace activists, when you start contributing hundreds of thousands of Euros towards MEP election campaigns, then perhaps you will find the politicians on your side. As things stand now, it is clear that certain MEP's are simply fulfilling their obligations by defending the indefensible. Such is democracy in Malta. The AFM is simply doing its master's bidding, they simply obey orders.
Peter Korsten
Jun 14th 2010, 08:31
Whilst Greenpeace have been instrumental in putting nature preservation into the spotlight, ever since the Brent Spar fiasco I've lost a lot of confidence in them. You just can't believe everything they say.
Whether this tuna was caught illegally, I don't know. But for sure, I won't believe Greenpeace as I used to in the past.
J. Borg
Jun 14th 2010, 13:52
Good for you....
believe the politicians....financed by big businesses then!
Greenpeace have no financial gain to make in risking their limbs to try and delay the fish's extinction....not to same can be said of the big fat cats operating fish farms.
Maybe it is about time to do some independent research and use the grey matter between one's ear to arrive at one's own conclusions...
tony abela
Jun 14th 2010, 08:24
Where there is the money their is the power!
There is a big difference between traditional tuna fishing and the tuna farming industry, but big money speaks for itself.
John Inguanez
Jun 14th 2010, 07:17
To all those criticsing the army: Do you have any relative who is fisherman earning this living legally? When it has become legal to attack and try to steal (because this was what the Greenpeace were doing) legal caught fish. One cannot quote a law and infringe another law. Who gave Greenpeace the power to patrol the seas and attack legally caught tuna? Are we now reaching the law of the jungle, when one does not respect laws?
Antoine Grima
Jun 13th 2010, 23:51
Well done to the Maltese navy for protecting Maltese hard working people from foreign interference.If their catch was legal , than there is no argument and Green peace actavist should be fined.
joe muscat
Jun 13th 2010, 23:30
the Commissioner of Police to investigate and take action..this is a clear illegal activity in our country, it makes no difference if this tuna is in danger, because greenpeace has no right to take law in hands, we are waiting for clear ACTIONS !!!!
F.Fenech
Jun 13th 2010, 23:20
our AFM should have opened fire because these so called "peace" people are nothing else than sea pirates, and should be treated as such, I sincerely hope that these people are brought to justice, as now they have overstepped the line once too often.
Mario Desira
Jun 13th 2010, 23:18
Greenpeace have the guts to do what governments on earth have failed to do.
The interests of the world are being sacrificed for the monetary of the few.
When tuna is extinct, the fisherman will then sell and eat their nets right?
The tuna caught is legal but far from legitimate!
Michael Spiteri
Jun 13th 2010, 22:31
'Non violent'. Give us a break Green Peace! Thank God this is Malta and all you got was water spray from our navy. Bet if some Maltese group does these same actions in American or Israeli waters they will get some harder medium spray from your navies.
Marco Cremona
Jun 13th 2010, 22:04
@Edward Camilleri. You hit the nail on the head with your observation - "How quick the authorities have responded to defend the workers towing the tuna. One cannot say the same when reporting illegal hunting, no one arrives on scene!"
Every year 20 million tonnes of groundwater (with a value of tens of millions of euros) is pumped up illegally through boreholes by opportunists to the expense of those who pay for their water. Is anybody seeing any significant action to stop this illegality?
I would love to see the same determined action by AFM/Police/Malta Resources Authority in the water sector against 'perpetrators' as happened today. Clearly, protection is provided to certain 'hbieb ta-hbieb' who over-exploit our natural resources (including fish stocks) and not to Mr. Citizen who foots the bill.
A Briffa
Jun 14th 2010, 11:47
"Is anybody seeing any significant action to stop this illegality?" marco cremona should keep himself updated....boreholes this year need to have a metre installed.
Astrid Vella
Jun 13th 2010, 21:41
Where was the Maltese army when planes used to pose as tourist planes etc and instead go out reconnoitring for migrating tuna for the fishing industry which is illegal.
Funny how its only the illegalities of Greenpeace that whip the authorities into immediate action, while the abuse of a vested industry that has been going on for years is ignored. Who remembers how some operators were grossly under-reporting catches to the EU? How strange that the figures stood out a mile yet the Ministry concerned somehow failed to notice the discrepancies.
David Caruana
Jun 13th 2010, 22:41
Well said! Either as a tourist plane or pretending to do a routine check to make sure no oil spills are getting close to their farms! Pathetic! Even National Geographic reports this:
"I flew one June morning with Eduardo Domaniewicz, an Argentine-American pilot who has spotted for tuna for French and Italian purse seiners since 2003. Riding shotgun was Domaniewicz's spotter, Alfonso Consiglio. They were combing the waters between Lampedusa and Tunisia, and they were not alone: Three other spotter aircraft were prowling illegally, relaying tuna sightings to some of the 20 purse seiners in the water below. (After two hours, high winds and choppy seas, which make it difficult both to see and net the first, forced the planes to return to Lampedusa and Malta."
http://ocean.nationalgeographic.com/ocean/global-fish-crisis-article/
Tony Caruana
Jun 13th 2010, 21:22
''Commissioner of Police to investigate and take criminal proceedings against the perpetrators.''
We'll see if the commisioner has the guts to take any action against these law breakers.
Edward Camilleri
Jun 13th 2010, 20:58
How quick the authorities have responded to defend the workers towing the tuna. One cannot say the same when reporting illegal hunting, no one arrives on scene!
This tuna may have been caught 'legally' but it is a known fact that tuna are on the brink of extinction and thus need protection. Greenpeace are doing a favour to all by protecting the tuna. The authorities & AFM are just protecting the interest of a few - which I hope one day with the EU insistence will stop catching tuna in such a large scale.
Good luck Greenpeace, you are doing a sterling job.
M. Ellul
Jun 13th 2010, 21:11
Well said Mr. Camilleri.
A MIcallef
Jun 13th 2010, 21:46
Agreed. Every tuna fish that remains in the wild will devour huge numbers of jellyfish. Remember that when you are trying to swim this summer and we are infested with jellyfish in our waters. It didn't use to be this way! Protection of the tuna farms is at the expense of the tourism industry and the right of every Maltese family to enjoy the sea.
ryan said
Jun 14th 2010, 21:14
always the same here bla bla bla bla.... if you earn your living from tuna you never say these words my friend. the goverment doesn t know about some people here cos they are experts in every thing that happen in these small island !!! BLA BLA BLA BLA
David Caruana
Jun 13th 2010, 20:37
The Maltese Governement lost its credibility as well when it comes to protecting Bluefin Tuna.
"The European Union failed to make progress on bluefin tuna last year, with Greek Environment Commissioner Stavros Dimas and Maltese Fisheries Commissioner Joe Borg deadlocked over how far the EU should go to protect the fish.
EU diplomats expect to see faster progress this year under newly nominated Greek Fisheries Commissioner Maria Damanaki."
http://www.reuters.com/article/idUSTRE6121Z620100203
David Caruana
Jun 13th 2010, 20:27
@ Mike Micallef:
Me? Colonialist? You couldn't have shot a worse judgement about me! But that's ok, we don't have the pleasure to know each other.
@ all of you defending the fisheries:
ICCAT lost all its credibility!
"The International Commissions for the Conservation of Atlantic Tuna (ICCAT) ignored the advice of its scientists to end fishing of the Atlantic bluefin tuna. Instead ICAAT set a quota of 13,500 tons of fish. This is not the first time ICCAT has flouted its own researchers' advice: it has repeatedly set quotas well-above its researchers' recommendations. "
Read more here:
http://news.mongabay.com/2009/1115-hance_iccat.html
Edward James
Jun 13th 2010, 19:56
One day no doubt, our fishermen will be complaining that there are no BlueFin tuna left at all. Legal or non-legal, BlueFin tuna are still only being handled because short-sighted, belligerent fishermen have demanded to be allowed to catch far more than the sea will cope with.
As usual, it's down to Greenpeace to protect our fishing industry. Well done Greenpeace!! Next time, send four ships.
Robert Falzon
Jun 13th 2010, 19:54
Greenpeace usually does its homework quite well before any intervention. Even if these tunas were caught legally, is it the moral thing to do to catch them when their numbers have been so drastically depleted?
Whaling is still legal for scientific purposes, but we all know that it is the wrong thing to do as whales were nearly driven to extintion. Some types of whales are still very vulnerable and would have become extint if it was not for Greenpeace in the main who have kept this barbaric trade in whaling in the public eye.
john micallef
Jun 13th 2010, 20:38
dear mr falzon, hope u made you homework correctly & tomorow you go to work using the bicycle to go to work not to harm the environment. Hope you made your homework this week you separeate your waist
Hallina adek ma ndunajtx li fid dinka tal lum fgih lamjent tista toqod bilqeda tistenna l hallieq isejahlek. L affarijiet jimxu kif edt intt f dinja perfetta! Mhux li kieku kienet!
M. Ellul
Jun 13th 2010, 19:52
Some of the comments just make me realise more and more what a pityful world we have become. Killing and destroying life is ok. Let's keep on protecting those who are making a fortune out of this business ghax hekk jaqbel hux!! How very sad!!!
Daniel Goggi
Jun 13th 2010, 19:37
To all grumpy Maltese "tax payers"
The Maltese Navy was doing its job. If the fishermen/owners of an industry called for protection for their legal operations, then I guess it’s their right to do so. I am not employed by any of these industries, nor am I a fisherman by profession, but I think that if it’s a legitimate catch they were transporting, then they have the legitimate right to call for help.
THEY are tax payers too. When YOU buy canned tuna that’s blue fin tuna (usually). When YOU buy fresh tuna or fish, that’s from those people calling for AFM for help out there.
AND, and this is a big AND, if YOU buy fish and ask for a receipt, then yes, these people are declaring their taxes and income and they have the right for protection too.
One last thing, if someone is being attacked for example; a small business man with a stationary shop, and someone goes to take paper and stuff just because the paper he sells is not recycled or something of that sort, then the owner doesn't have a right to call the police?
For heavens sake, TRY AND BE RATIONAL!
Fabien Sant Fournier
Jun 13th 2010, 21:25
oh come on! Do you really think that you are getting blue fin tuna in that 2 euro can?! When a blue fin can sells for thousands in asia?!
D. Farrugia
Jun 13th 2010, 23:42
"When YOU buy canned tuna that’s blue fin tuna (usually)." Actually no Mr. Goggi, the canned tuna that you find in most supermarkets and shops is not bluefin tuna, it's skipjack tuna (Katsuwonus pelamis). The majority of bluefin tuna that is caught from our territorial waters ends up as sushi in Japan. Japan is literally robbing the Mediterranean sea of Thunnus thynnus and the species is on a spiral road to extinction.
Purse seining and fish farming is contributing to its extinction. This is a very lucrative business Mr Goggi and only the elite ('scuse the pun) few are benefiting from this critically endangered species. As I mentioned in earlier comments, this is tragedy of the commons right in front of our eyes.
joe muscat
Jun 13th 2010, 19:12
greenpeace are just asking for trouble...they must be arrested because they committed an illegal action
malcolm seychell
Jun 13th 2010, 19:08
We should start doing like gaddafi, russia, and some eu states. Ignore completely these so called NGO which have a clear political agenda.
Most of them are communists who can never get a decent job
Adrian Cachia
Jun 13th 2010, 21:22
haha!
What a funny comment Mr. Seychell.
Why working on a Greenpeace Ship is not a job? What is a decent job for you? Who do you think manages the Greenpeace websites? The Greenpeace Vehicles? The Greenpeace equipment?
Jeremy J Camilleri
Jun 13th 2010, 22:29
And you dont Mr Seychell?
Hope you dont envisage the Greenpeace activists getting 'strewn up from a lights pole'
Jeremy J Camilleri
Jun 13th 2010, 22:30
Humble apologies...confused Malcolm Seychell with another Seychell.
Lawrence Bonello
Jun 14th 2010, 07:43
@ Malcolm Seychell
You mean like the ones who spend their day sipping coffee and spewing verbal diahorrea in an Attard coffee-shop? Someone you probably admire!
Call THAT a decent job!!
Antoine Sant
Jun 13th 2010, 19:05
In my opinion, Greenpeace are simply a pain in the nether regions... no more, no less. Just like Birdlife and their German counterparts, CABS. If this story is correct, well, perhaps the Maltese Navy should have used something stronger than water cannon. I recall the French navy had sorted out the Greenpeace protesters in New Zealand some years ago, with - if I remember correctly - a couple of limpet mines. These people are nothing but trouble-makers.
Mario Schembri Wismayer
Jun 14th 2010, 15:24
Well said. I completely agree.
Mike Micallef
Jun 13th 2010, 18:44
@ David Caruana You are not correct. The Maltese 'navy' ie our AFM have always been used to protect our fisheries interests as they should. Greenpeace have no right to forcefully attack private property if it is legal. They have every right, and my support, to campaign to change the rules, but not the right to be vigilante and take the law into their own hands. Please do not fall to the classical colonialist temptation of accepting all actions by foreigners, and criticising anything which is Maltese.
@ J Borg " vile Government condoned action" ????? The government is OBLIGED to defend Maltese legal interests! and let us keep things in perspective, the use of water cannon, at sea, is not exactly excessive is it??
J. Borg
Jun 13th 2010, 23:18
Maltese legal interests???
Please elaborate.......as far as I know and see.... tuna "farms" are polluting our bays and sabotaging our tourism income - just because the operators what to make a kill (literally) of the species and Yens.
Maltese interests ... my foot!
Ernest Vella
Jun 13th 2010, 18:25
Non-Violent doesn't mean cut the nets which are private property of others, doesn't mean enter with dingies on other boats to disturb people who are working...At last the Maltese Soldiers are defending the Maltese people from arrogant people who want to dictate Malta what to do when there countries breach laws left right centre.
WE CLAIM OUR SHORES, OUR SEAS AND OUR LAND...Greenpeace turn your ships and go back to your ports...you're not welcome in Malta...its better if you defend the unborn child!!! so to be credible at least!!!
M.Caruana
Jun 13th 2010, 18:13
Greenpeace have no authority and no right to demand any release. How can they claim authority for releasing fish pens/cages? They claim they fish were caught during the last days. DO they have any evidence of this? If so they should go to the relevant authorities with the evidence. Greenpeace are just common people, NGOs not an authority therefore it is illegal for them to try and release tuna it is in fact a crime to try to do so. Well done to the maltese navy. I hope procedures are taken against the greenpeace activists for this illegal crime so that they are shown that the are NOT the Authority in Maltese waters.
M Ellul
Jun 13th 2010, 18:41
Greenpeace and similar organisations who want to safeguard our Earth have all the right Mr Caruana. Who are we humans to keep on destroying these creatures!!! Do we have a right?? If the above article is true, we should be ashamed of ourselves. If it wasn't for Greenpeace and similar organisations, we would have already lost forever creatures like whales and seals. Let's put a stop to all this senseless killing!! Thank you Greenpeace.
David Caruana
Jun 13th 2010, 18:42
Relevant authorities?!?! Can't you see that the authorities are protecting the big fishing companies - at the expense of future tuna stocks!! I can't explain what's really happening in this case because my comment would surely get censored, but it's obvious that someone's pockets are getting fat if the Maltese navy has been used in this case! Whay wasn't the Navy used to do spotchecks on these fisheries and confirm that they are adhering to quotas?
If tuna stocks collapse, it will be a serious crime against biodiversity, and we're the ones to suffer. The fishing companies already did enough money so far, so they don't care!
J. Borg
Jun 13th 2010, 18:06
I just received my tax return......
Hmmm....over my dead body will my hard earned euros go to finance this vile government condoned action vs Greenpeace last resort actions!
No cheques from me Mr. Inland Revenue!
Alfred Bugeja
Jun 14th 2010, 07:17
Don't forget to drop a line when you're locked.
I would love to visit you at Kordin... ;-)
J.Bonnici
Jun 13th 2010, 17:42
Though their actions seem extreme at first glance, in the long run Greenpeace will actually be safeguarding our fragile tuna industry.
David Caruana
Jun 13th 2010, 17:36
Can anyone confirm if the "Maltese navy" were really involved in this? This cannot be right! So now my taxes are used to support a Navy which is protecting the greedy interests of the big fishing companies?!?!
The Maltese Navy was never used as a watchdog on the fisheries and check that they adhere to their quotas. Conveniently enough (for some), now they're being used to protect the fishing companies' interests!
Pathetic, simply pathetic! All we can see is money money money!
Daniel Goggi
Jun 13th 2010, 19:40
Look at the picture pal... there is a greenpeace vessel, an AFM patrol boat, a fish farm pan and 5 other vessels at sea. I think the picture itself confirms that the Maltese navy was involved.
Also, if you can read properly, the article says "(Adds government + AFM statements)"