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Mauritius: Indian Ocean haven for pirate fishing vessels
Report Contents Pirate Fishing and the Southern Ocean The emergence of the toothfish fishery Mauritius: still harbouring pirates Pirate Fishing: global problem Mauritius: Also, check out our Pirates Gallery to see Greenpeace's list of recent activity in Mauritius |
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How do pirates evade detection?Pirate fishing companies often use “flags of convenience” from countries such as Belize, Panama, Honduras and Vanuatu whose flags are for sale with no questions asked. As these states fail to exercise control over their fleets, flag-of-convenience vessels can fish the high seas without abiding by international conservation and management measures. They will often fish illegally in remote waters and the waters of other, primarily developing, countries that do not have the ability to monitor or patrol their offshore areas. The international community is currently addressing the problem of flag of convenience fishing. The pirates use “dummy” or “shell” companies that hide their owners’ identities – particularly if they are also using flags of convenience. The pirate companies go to extraordinary lengths to conceal international trade routes. Their vessels sometimes carry no markings at all to mask their identities at sea. They use ports where they know the authorities will allow the use of their facilities and turn a blind eye to the environmental sustainability and source of the catch. These ports then act as a “gateway” to the global market for marine fish. They also know markets that are increasingly deregulated, and where the origin of the fish arriving for sale is not questioned.
Pirate fishing and
the Southern Ocean
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International Office Address: © Greenpeace International |
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