DAWN ACTION MARKS LAUNCH OF CAMPAIGN TO BAN U.S. FACTORY TRAWLERS

GREENPEACE BLOCKADES FLEET IN SEATTLE HARBOUR

16th August 1996

Greenpeace divers slipped into the waters of Seattle harbour by pier 91 at dawn carrying chains to wrap around the propellers of five U.S. factory trawlers. The ships, American Empress, American Triumph, Ocean Rover, Pacific Navigator, and Pacific Explorer are all owned by American Seafoods.

© Greenpeace 1996 Greenpeace diver secures chains around propeller of factory trawler.

© Greenpeace 1996 After chaining the ships' propellers, Greenpeace divers attached this underwater banner -- "Ban Factory Trawlers, Greenpeace" --to the side of one of the ships.

Twelve protesters attatched to a floating boom formed a human barracade to prevent the trawlers leaving the harbour to go 'fishing' going anywhere. Several more protestors climbed onto the factory trawlers. One, Heather Whitehead, was at the entrance to an outflow pump when she was blown into the water by a sudden discharge of dirty oil.

Another, Greenpeace Seattle's Ananda Bareno, was arrested after she locked onto the side of a boat. She and another campaigner, Jeanne Patton, earlier climbed one of the boat lines and plummeted into the water when it was cut by crew. Protestors were also sprayed down by fire hoses.

© Tim Crosby/Greenpeace 1996 Greenpeace climber hangs from the side of an American Seafoods-owned factory trawler with banner reading "Ban Factory Trawlers."

© Tim Crosby/Greenpeace 1996 For over nine hours, 12 Greenpeace protesters floated in the water as a "human chain," each locked to a floating oil boom which prevented the factory trawlers from leaving port. Above their heads, climbers suspended a banner reading "Factory Trawlers: Strip Mining the Oceans, Greenpeace"

© Tim Crosby/Greenpeace 1996 The crew of the "Pacific Navigator," owned by American Seafoods, spray Greenpeace protesters attached to another American Seafoods-owned trawler berthed nearby.

The trawler crews put up a banner reading, "Save American Jobs"... but a Greenpeace banner was immediately placed underneath it reading: "Ban Factory Trawlers." - Interestingly, from a distance, spectators could then read: "SAVE AMERICAN JOBS - BAN FACTORY TRAWLERS!

The protest continued for more than eight hours, - eight protestors who were arrested were released pending dates for court appearances