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FranceFrance has perhaps been the most active in taking enforcement action against pirates fishing in waters around its sub-Antarctic territories. However, despite being a member of the Convention for the Conservation of Antarctic Marine Living Resources, France is one of the governments continuing to grant fishing licenses for toothfish there. The continued trade of toothfish (Légine Austral) is providing the cover for pirate fishers to unload their illegal catch. There is no scheme currently in existence that can adequately determine whether a fish has been caught legally or illegally. It's time for France to agree to a moratorium on the fishery and a trade ban on Patagonian toothfish as the emergency measure needed to stop the pirates.
Sample Letter Hubert Vedrine Dear Sir: I am extremely concerned about the uncontrolled pirate fishing for toothfish in the waters of the Southern Ocean. Scientists estimate that at the current rate of fishing, the fishery would collapse within two years. In addition, many thousands of vulnerable species of seabirds, such as albatrosses and petrels, are dying on hooks intended to catch toothfish. The entire Southern Ocean ecosystem is at risk. Despite widespread recognition that illegal fishing in the Southern Ocean is raging out of control and very little is known about the extent and impact of illegal fishing, France continues to place additional pressure on this unique environment by licensing still more fishing. This cannot be considered precautionary. It is apparent that France is currently placing more importance on pressure from commercial fishing companies than to the need to conserve this Antarctic fish. France is a market for toothfish. The only reason that the pirate fishery for toothfish exists is because markets are available to sell these fish. Pirate fishing companies will continue to find ways to disguise their trade in illegally caught fish as long as there is toothfish caught under license on the market. It has been recognised that CCAMLR's Catch Documentation Scheme will be insufficient to end the trade in illegally caught toothfish. I am very concerned that consumers and fish buyers cannot be confident that a pirate vessel did not catch the toothfish in their supermarkets and restaurants. Until pirate fishing in the Southern Ocean is eliminated and seabirds are no longer killed, I demand that the French government ban trade in toothfish. As a member of the Commission for the Conservation of Antarctic Marine Living Resources (CCAMLR), our government has both the opportunity and responsibility to act on behalf of this fragile ecosystem. I urge you to demand a moratorium on fishing for toothfish in the Southern Ocean, backed by a trade ban, until the pirate fishing is eliminated. We should oppose the resumption of fishing for toothfish in the Southern Ocean until it can be demonstrated that the fishery can withstand the impact of commercial fishing and that effective monitoring and enforcement mechanisms are in place to prevent the return of pirate vessels. Sincerely,
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