7/11 Danish Fishermen Threaten to Sink GP Ship

[the.greenbase@green2.greenpeace.org]

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Original-TO:      World Press 
Original-Cc:      The Greenbase 
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DANISH INDUSTRIAL FISHING CREW THREATENS TO SINK GREENPEACE
VESSEL   
 
Press Release, AMSTERDAM, July 11, 1996 (GP) A Danish industrial
fishing vessel  threatened to sink the Greenpeace boat, MV
Sirius, during confrontations this morning off  the Scottish
North Sea coast, near Edinburgh. 
 
Greenpeace spokesperson on board the MV Sirius, Desley Mather,
said  as the Danish vessel Triton approached the Sirius around
8.30 am a radio message  was received in Danish which stated:
"Better put on your lifejackets. We're going to  sink you now".
The crew of the Triton later fired a flare towards the MV
Sirius.     
 
Earlier a second Danish vessel, the Long Forties, had harassed
the  Sirius, drawing along side the vessel. A Fisheries
Protection boat, the HMS Alderney,  launched an inflatable which
moved between the two vessels after which the Long  Forties
changed course. 
 
"Greenpeace is here to peacefully protest against industrial 
fisheries in sensitive marine areas and will not be intimidated
by the aggressive tactics of  the Danish fishing fleet," said
Desley Mather. "It is time the European  governments stopped  
talking and took some action to prevent this ecological disaster
from  continuing in the North Sea."    
 
The exclusion of industrial fisheries from sensitive areas is
one  part of an emergency recovery plan needed for the
overfished North Sea.  For industrial  fisheries,  
Greenpeace also believes any catch limits outside sensitive
areas  should be set using the precautionary approach and
bycatch of other species should be cut  drastically.    
 
Industrial fisheries are virtually unregulated and yet take
nearly 50  per cent of all fish landed in the North Sea. They
use ultra-fine nets to catch  sandeels and other small fish near
the bottom of the marine food web. These fish are food for
"table" fish, sea birds and other marine  wildlife. 
 
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT DESLEY MATHER ON THE MV SIRIUS
00-44-402605187 or  sat  
phone  00 874 130 0144 OR JON WALTER AT GREENPEACE 
INTERNATIONAL ON 3120-524-9547  

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