GP Action Against Destructive Fishing Methods in N. Sea Enters S

["Greenbase" <greenbas@gb.greenpeace.org>]

GREENPEACE ACTION AGAINST DESTRUCTIVE FISHING METHODS IN NORTH
SEA ENTERS SECOND DAY

Amsterdam, 5 March, 1997 -- Despite retaliation from trawlermen,
Greenpeace activists in inflatable boats went back into action
in the North Sea this morning and continued to challenge North
Sea beam trawlers which use heavy chains to plough up the
seabed.

Four swimmers -- all experienced Greenpeace activists --
confronted the Maria, a Dutch beam trawler fishing off the
German coast,  by swimming in front of the boat. Greenpeace
first asked the trawlermen to stop using destructive chains to
dig up the sea bed in order to catch plaice and sole, but they
refused.

Yesterday, while Greenpeace used non-violent methods to try to
persuade the fishermen to stop using destructive chains, fire
hoses were used on the activists and discarded debris and wooden
blocks were thrown at the rubber boats during yesterday's
action. 

"We understand that fishermen feel their livelihoods are at
stake," said Greenpeace campaigner Just van den Broek. "But the
livelihoods of all fishermen are at threat from destructive
fishing practices. Beam trawlers which drag heavy chains through
the sea bed are causing untold damage to marine life. For every
kilo of marketable fish caught in this way up to six kilos of
dead fish and invertebrates are thrown away."

At least half the North Sea is regularly ploughed up by beam
trawling chains. The method requires massive engine power from
the trawlers. The seabed of the southern North Sea is the worst
affected, with some areas being swept several times a year by
beam trawls. Trawlers using this method come from coutnries
including the United Kingdom, Germany and Belgium, but the
majority are Dutch owned.

In a week's time European environment and fisheries ministers
get together at the Interim Ministerial Meeting (IMM) in Bergen
to decide the fate of the North Sea. The last North Sea
Conference in Esbjerg, Denmark, in 1995 agreed that fisheries
needed urgent action and called the IMM in order to integrate
environment and fisheries policy.

"This meeting is the Environment ministers' chance to show that
they are being taken seriously," said van den Broek.
"Unfortunately the signs are that they are about to play second
fiddle to the fisheries departments. If this happens, North Sea
fisheries will be heading for the same fate as those off eastern
Canada, where cod stocks have all but disappeared."

     ends

For details of photographs and footage of the action contact:
Anke Scheibe (footage) on 31 20 524 9543, Steve Morgan (photos)
31 20 524 9514

For further information contact Peter Pueschel, Greenpeace
Campaigner on board the MV Greenpeace on 49 172 381 8145; James
Gillies, Press Officer, Greenpeace International, Amsterdam on
31 20 524 9548.