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'Chronicle of a Plunder Foretold'

Foreword.

Food production at a global level is in a crisis. In its report State of the World 1995/96, the Worldwatch Institute states that the decline is particularly noticeable in two areas crucial for the global food production: grain and fish. In both these areas, the limit for the production ability of the biosphere seems to have been reached. On a per capita basis, the amount of grain and fish is declining from year to year. Lester R. Brown points to the fact that the biological production systems, the very foundation of the world economy, are about to be overloaded. Overfishing of the world's marine resources cannot be solved by building more ships when overcapacity is already a problem.

It is in that context that Greenpeace puts the spot light on Resources Group International (RGI) and the fishing activities of that company. RGI has now set its eyes on Chile, a country whose fish resources are already extensively harvested. The American Monarch, which RGI is currently building and plans to send to Chile, will be the world's most efficient factory trawler.

This report will show conclusively that the addition of the American Monarch to the fishery in Chilean waters will result in overfishing and possible collapse of the stock and thus the communities dependent upon it. This is documented using publically available statistics, including RGI's own reports. The arguments which form the basis of RGI's decision to send the American Monarch to Chile are reviewed and strongly critised.

If RGI is sincere in their public statements that they are concerned with the need for sustainable fisheries, the company sould make one decision and one decision only: to withdraw the plans to send the American Monarch to fish in Chile. On the other hand, alternative locations for the ship to fish are not obvious. It is an open question whether factory trawlers like the American Monarch have a future at all. All signs suggest that they do not.

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