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PanamaPanama sells its flag to foreign companies seeking to escape fisheries regulation - hence the term, "flag of convenience". There are several pirate toothfish vessels using the Panamanian flag.In 1999 the French arrested the Panamanian flagged "Comouco" in French territorial waters around Crozet Island. This seizure recently became the subject of legal action at the International Tribunal for the Law of the Sea. The "Camouco" is owned by two Spanish companies. It's time for Panama to end its involvement with pirate fishing vessels.Contact the government of Panama today
Sample Letter Dr Ricardo Alberto Arias Arias Dear Sir: I am extremely concerned about the uncontrolled pirate fishing for toothfish in the waters of the Southern Ocean. Many of the illegal vessels found fishing for toothfish in the Southern Ocean are flagged in Panama. 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. Panama is one of the main flag-of-convenience countries known to provide easy registration for the vessels of companies seeking to avoid the tight regulations imposed by their home countries. I am shocked that this country provides an easy registration option for those who pay no heed to environmental considerations designed to protect the world's oceans and seas - in this case the fragile ocean around Antarctica. I demand that Panama end this association with pirate fishing and maintain a shipping register of which your nation can be proud. Sincerely,
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