MV Esperanza at the Earth Summit 2002

Pirates are mostly a thing of the past, but where we are in the Indian ocean between Cape Town and Durban, modern day pirates lurk. Pirate fishing ships, which are the scourge not only of local fisher folk but also part of a larger global problem, are plundering the seas around South Africa and many other countries.

We know they are out there and we know they have been in Cape Town but like the authorities in South Africa we have to actually catch them in the act - and it's a big sea out here! South Africa has a pretty good record of clamping down on pirate fishing but many other countries, especially in the European Union, are turning a blind eye.

The truth is that if other countries made more of an effort, and if the men in suits up in Johannesburg at the Summit - and I particularly mean you guys from the European Union - don't start acting fast, its not just the pirate fishermen who will be invisible - it will be the fish as well.

Pirate fishers usually operate under a flag of convenience and often cover up their boat's identification markings. A flag of convenience is a flag that is purchased from one of the countries who for a fee turn a blind eye to the vessel's illegal activities. They are relatively cheap and easy to purchase on the internet at www.flagsofconvenience.com.

Pirate fishers routinely violate fishing regulations on the high seas and often poach within the waters of developing nations threatening not only the already depleted fish stocks but also the livelihoods of legitimate fishing folk. Abuse of crews, virtual slave wages and dangerous working conditions are also common on the pirate vessels.

Pirate fishing vessels are stripping the ocean bare. They spend months off shore, setting nets or miles of line, or dragging down to the ocean floor. This is not only totally unsustainable, but also denies local fisher people the chance to compete for food in their own waters.

World leaders at the Earth Summit, especially the European Union, which has a very poor track record on clamping down on pirate fishing, must commit to close ports and markets to pirate fishing, support vessels and the illegal catch, as well as close or otherwise prevent companies and nationals from owning or operating flag of convenience fishing and support vessels. In addition, financial support must be given to developing countries to control fishing and protect marine resources in their waters.

Highlights of the Esperanza's South African WSSD tour so far...

19 August - The Esperanza intercepts the British Nuclear Fuels plutonium shipment aboard the Pacific Pintail and stages a high seas protest.

23 August - Archbishop Desmond Tutu visited us in Cape Town and blesses the Esperanza wishing us well on our quest for peace and a nuclear free world.

24 August - Greenpeace activists protest against nuclear power at the Koeberg nuclear power plant near Cape Town. Everything goes smoothly until the police arrive. Twelve Greenpeacers are arrested and two boats from the Esperanza are confiscated.

26 August - We find out that the 6 crew members arrested at Koeberg are not allowed to return to the ship.