RGI TRAWLER AMERICAN MONARCH SAILS FOR SOUTHERN PACIFIC WATERS

SANTIAGO/ CHILE, DECEMBER 3RD 1996

With habitual secrecy and a lack of public information, the super factory vessel, "American Monarch", sailed yesterday from Tomrefjord, Norway, heading towards Panama. The vessel departed, with a Norwegian crew which includes 20 Chilean members, without obtaining governmental permission to operate in the southern fisheries of Chile and with an increasing opposition by Chilean citizens.

The transnational company, RGI/American Seafood Co., has been searching for alternative fishing grounds for the "American Monarch" after the governmental rejection issued by the Undersecretary of Fisheries in Chile. After another rejection from the Malvinas/Falkland administration, in November, the executives of the RGI/ASFC, have attempted to start negociations to operate temporarily in Peruvian waters. During the last weeks RGI, has tried to send the "American Monarch" the southern waters of Chile to do " fishing research".

It is very likely that the "American Monarch" will endevor to operate during the next 6 months, over exploiting Peruvian fisheries or in the international waters of the southern cone of Latin America, while waiting for the judicial resolution of the transnational's appeal before Chilean courts.

"The Peruvian government could have imported a large environmental and social problem, that Chilean and Norwegian societies have fought hard to prevent. This clearly shows us, the real lack of responsability and commitment of American Seafoods in the area of conservation of marine resources. In the end, this transnational is going to operate in which ever country does not have strong regulations and environmental controls, to prevent the impact of the most modern factory trawler on the planet", said David Stenerud, from the Fisheries Campaign of Greenpeace International.

"This secretive action on the part of American Seafood, says much more than their formal statements; it indicates that all of the aprehentions of the Chilean fishermen and citizens are correct, and should be taken into consideration by the judges trying the appeal of the "American Monarch". They must reject the American seafoods appeal in order to defend the fishery resources of Chile, Aysan and Magellan regions, all of which are common property of the nation," said Juan Carlos Cardenas, from the fisheries campaign of Greenpeace Chile.

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FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:

Juan Carlos Cardenas or David Stenerud on board the Rainbow Warrior on ++56 9 332 1748 / ++56 9 332 1752,

or

Greenpeace International press desk, Holger Roenitz 00 31 20 5249 545

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