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GREENPEACE ACTION AGAINST DESTRUCTIVE FISHING METHODS IN NORTH SEA ENTERS SECOND DAY
AMSTERDAM - March 5th 1997
Despite retaliation from trawlermen, Greenpeace activists in inflatable boats went back into action in the North Sea this morning and continued to challenge North Sea beam trawlers which use heavy chains to plough up the seabed.
Four swimmers -- all experienced Greenpeace activists -- confronted the Maria, a Dutch beam trawler fishing off the German coast, by swimming in front of the boat. Greenpeace first asked the trawlermen to stop using destructive chains to dig up the sea bed in order to catch plaice and sole, but they refused.
Yesterday, while Greenpeace used non-violent methods to try to persuade the fishermen to stop using destructive chains, fire hoses were used on the activists and discarded debris and wooden blocks were thrown at the rubber boats during yesterday's action.
"We understand that fishermen feel their livelihoods are at stake," said Greenpeace campaigner Just van den Broek. "But the livelihoods of all fishermen are at threat from destructive fishing practices. Beam trawlers which drag heavy chains through the sea bed are causing untold damage to marine life. For every kilo of marketable fish caught in this way up to six kilos of dead fish and invertebrates are thrown away."
At least half the North Sea is regularly ploughed up by beam trawling chains. The method requires massive engine power from the trawlers. The seabed of the southern North Sea is the worst affected, with some areas being swept several times a year by beam trawls. Trawlers using this method come from coutnries including the United Kingdom, Germany and Belgium, but the majority are Dutch owned.
In a week's time European environment and fisheries ministers get together at the Interim Ministerial Meeting (IMM) in Bergen to decide the fate of the North Sea. The last North Sea Conference in Esbjerg, Denmark, in 1995 agreed that fisheries needed urgent action and called the IMM in order to integrate environment and fisheries policy.
"This meeting is the Environment ministers' chance to show that they are being taken seriously," said van den Broek. "Unfortunately the signs are that they are about to play second fiddle to the fisheries departments. If this happens, North Sea fisheries will be heading for the same fate as those off eastern Canada, where cod stocks have all but disappeared."
For photographs and footage of the action contact:
Anke Scheibe (footage) on 31 20 524 9543, or Steve Morgan (photos) 31 20 524 9514For further information contact:
Peter Pueschel, Greenpeace Campaigner - MV Greenpeace on 49 172 381 8145
James Gillies, Press Officer, Greenpeace International, Amsterdam on 31 20 524 9548.