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UruguayVessels registered in Uruguay fish in sub-Antarctic waters. Vessels
from Uruguay are also known to operate illegally in the toothfish fishery.
In November 1999 the government announced that it would expand exploratory
fishing. Montevideo in Uruguay has acted as a landing and transshipping
point by mostly Chilean pirates who were attracted to the port by lenient
fisheries authorities that accepted "high seas" as the point of origin
for the toothfish. It's time for Uruguay to end its involvement with Pirate
fishing in the Southern Ocean.
Sample Letter Sergio Chiesa Dear Minister: I am extremely concerned about the uncontrolled pirate fishing for toothfish in the waters of the Southern Ocean in which Uruguay has been implicated. 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, Uruguay is placing additional pressure on this unique environment by continuing to seek fishing licences for its vessels. This cannot be considered precautionary. It is apparent that Uruguay is currently placing more importance on pressure from commercial fishing companies than to the need to conserve this Antarctic 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 licence on the market. Uruguay has also been identified as a "pirate port" country. This means that fish pirates who have been plundering the toothfish of the Southern Ocean know that they can go to ports such as Montevideo in Uruguay to unload their illegal catch with next to no questions asked. Allowing pirates to land their illegal catches in our ports means that Uruguay plays a significant role in the pirate fishing problem and unnecessarily brings this country's reputation, both regionally and internationally, into disrepute. 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. Yours sincerely,
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