SAVE ENDANGERED SOUTHERN BLUEFIN
TUNA
Southern bluefin tuna is in a state of collapse. The population
is at only 2-5% of its 1960 population levels, having decreased
by at least 90% in the last ten years alone.
Moreover, bycatch of albatross and other seabirds in the fishery is implicated in the decline of at least six of the world's fourteen albatross
species. At least 13 species of seabirds, including albatrosses
(family Diomedeidae), petrels and shearwaters (family
Procellariidae), are suffering significant incident mortality by
being hooked and drowned within longline fisheries.
Conservative estimate suggests that at least 44,000 albatrosses are killed annually in the tuna longline fisheries operating in NZ, Australian
and Southern Ocean waters (this is an estimate based on
observations of Japanese longliners only). The figure is believed
to be much higher.
Several seabird species affected by longlining
are considered to be globally threatened with extinction, including
the short-tailed albatoss (Diomedea Albatrus), the wandering
albatross (D. exulans), and the amsterdam albatross (D.
amsterdamensis). In addition, there is believed also to be a high
bycatch rate of other threatened or endangered marine species, e.g.
sharks.
REPORT:
Empty Seas, Empty Future
DIARY FROM MV ARCTIC SUNRISE
Crew updates: April 16 1997; April 10 1997; April 6 1997
PRESS RELEASES
19 January 1998: RAINBOW WARRIOR GOES INTO ACTION AS FATE OF A SPECIES IS DECIDED
21 April 1997: AUSTRALIA ACTS TO PROTECT ALBATROSS;
NEW ZEALAND MUST FOLLOW SUIT
16 April 1997: LONGLINERS DEPART AUCKLAND FOR ENDANGERED
SOUTHERN BLUEFIN TUNA FISHERY
11 April 1997: BOATS GATHER IN NEW ZEALAND FOR ENDANGERED SOUTHERN BLUEFIN TUNA KILL
25 March 1997: GREENPEACE LAUNCHES CAMPAIGN TO SAVE ENDANGERED SOUTHERN BLUEFIN TUNA
The American Monarch - the new Norwegian monster
trawler set to plunder the Ocean's fish
LATEST NEWS:
GREENPEACE HAILS SUPREME COURT DECISION TO BAR THE "AMERICAN MONARCH" SUPER FACTORY SHIP FROM CHILEAN SOUTHERN FISHERIES.
BACKGROUND INFORMATION
The Norwegian transnational, Resource Group International (RGI) last October (1996) launched the world's most efficient factory supertrawler.
Almost 100 metres long with state-of-the-art fish finding technology, the American Monarch is capable of fishing and processing up to 1,200 tonnes of fish each day -- more than any other fishing vessel in the world.
The American Monarch's first destination was to be the over-exploited fishing grounds of southern Chile where, according to RGI, it was to fish for southern blue whiting and hoki (Patagonian grenadier). However, the Chilean authorities denied the 'Mona
rch' a permit - the vessel is now moored in Seattle along with other Trawlers owned by the company.
The American Monarch is the first of 25 new monster fishing
vessels to be built by RGI shipyards -- all subsidised by the
Norwegian Government to the tune of US$56.3 million (366 million
NOK).
PRESS RELEASES: From the Campaign
ACTION: Greenpeace protest at baptism of monster trawler in Norway
Campaign launched against factory trawlers in U.S.
With commercial fisheries around the U.S. in
crisis, Greenpeace has launched a campaign to ban the U.S. fleet of "factory
trawlers" - the massive, industrial-scale fishing vessels capable of catching
500,000 pounds of fish per tow - that are devastating marine environments
around the world. In a new report, 'Sinking Fast',
Greenpeace details the disturbing facts about the environmental damage caused by factory trawlers. The new campaign follows Greenpeace's successful effort to ban driftnet fishing on the high seas. The
full text of 'Sinking Fast' is at the Greenpeace USA site.
LATEST PRESS RELEASE: January 14th 1997 - GREENPEACE IMPOUNDS INDUSTRIAL FISHING VESSELS. Ships Held to Protect the North Pacific Food Ch
ain
PRESS RELEASE: September 10th, 1996 - GREENPEACE DEMANDS BAN IN MIDST OF TRAWLER FLEET. You can follow events with the daily diary from the crew of the M.V. Greenpeace currently in the Bering Sea.
is on the Greenpeace USA pages.
DAWN ACTION in Seattle marks launch of campaign to ban US factory trawlers
PRESS RELEASE:
August 15th 1996 - Greenpeace launches campaign to ban factory trawlers.
Greenpeace is making waves in the North Sea and taking action to stop disastrous industrial fishery practices.
Overfishing in the North Sea has reached crisis levels as the region's
governments continue to ignore scientific recommendations to cut fishing levels.
As in most commercial fisheries, there are simply too many boats chasing too
few fish. The North Sea - Fisheries crisis hotspot:
Other places to visit in these pages:
Coming to these pages soon:
Greenpeace Fisheries Campaigns in:
- Central America
- European Union / Southern Cone
- Chile
- New Zealand
- Spain
- Norway
- Asia
