>> GLOBAL FISH WARS:CANADA AND EC TURBOT WAR ESCALATES
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GREENPEACE PRESS RELEASE
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>> GLOBAL FISH WARS:CANADA AND EC TURBOT WAR ESCALATES
VANCOUVER, CANADA, 10 March 1995 (GP) Another war over dwindling
fish stocks has erupted off Canada's east coast after the
European Union refused a Canadian Government request to stop
fishing declining turbot stocks.
Last night, a Canadian Coastguard vessel fired on a Spanish
trawler in international waters before its officers handcuffed
the Spanish captain. The Spanish vessel is one of about 50
European Union vessels fishing turbot stocks in the area.
Canada has imposed a 60-day moratorium on the turbot fishery for
all vessels including its own. The European Union refused to
abide by the moratorium and has continued to fish with little
regard to the impact on the turbot stock.
Canada called for the moratorium after negotiations over turbot
quotas broke down. Quotas for the fishery are set by the North
West Atlantic Fisheries Organisation (NAFO), a regional fisheries
management body. This year's quota was set at 27,000 tonnes.
The EU unilaterally allocated itself 18,630 tonnes, or 69 per
cent of that quota. NAFO had allocated the EU 12 per cent.
The EU, especially its main fishing country Spain, has a long
history of not abiding by fish conservation rules. This has led
to depletion of resources both in EU waters and elsewhere.
"The EU's refusal to stop fishing could devastate what is left of
the turbot stock," said Greenpeace Canada fisheries campaigner
Catherine Stewart. "Once again, the greed-driven competitive
race for remaining fish stocks will exceed what the oceans can
sustain."
"A moratorium should be adhered to by all parties in this fishery
until the dispute is settled," Stewart said. "The main aim must
be to conserve the stock rather than the usual short term
economic interests."
Governments charged with turning around the global fisheries
crisis will convene at the United Nations in New York again later
this month. If the conference results in a strong, legally
binding treaty when it concludes in July, these governments will
go a long way toward averting the next fish war, Greenpeace said.
"This is just the latest in a long line of clashes at sea around
the world, where nations and fishers fight for access to
dwindling fish stocks," Stewart said.
"The force used by Canada in this case, is not the solution.
Unless governments take and respect tough decisions in fisheries
management these wars at sea over fish will continue and worsen.
"Because if fishing continues to be an unregulated free-for-all,
there will be no fish left to fight over."
ENDS
For more information, please contact:
Catherine Stewart, Greenpeace Canada 604 253 7701, or
Helene Bours, Greenpeace EU fisheries campaigner or Desley Mather
on ++33 1 30521529