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To back up our action on the high seas we are also applying political
pressure to governments to take action to end pirate fishing. See below
for a chronological list of our letters/faxes and emails to government
and their responses:
July
18: Letter to Japan requesting an inspection of
pirate reefer vessel
Mr. Isao Nakasu
Director,
Fisheries Agency,
Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries
Tokyo,
Japan
Re: MV Hatsukari
shipping Flag of Convenience tuna to Japan
Dear Mr. Nakasu,
As you know
from previous correspondence, Greenpeace recently conducted an at-sea
expedition to document fishing by Flag of Convenience vessels in the Atlantic
Ocean. We found numerous vessels acting in violation of the regulations
established by the International Commission for the Conservation of Atlantic
Tunas (ICCAT), including a refrigerated cargo or 'reefer' vessel which
we believe is now on its way to Japan.
We respectfully
request that the government of Japan conduct an inspection, investigation
and take enforcement action, as warranted, against this vessel - the MV
"Hatsukari" - when it arrives in port in Japan in the next few
days or weeks.
On 6 May
2000, Greenpeace found the MV Hatsukari in the international waters of
the Atlantic Ocean at 10 degrees, 12 minutes south latitude and 5 degrees,
30 minutes west longitude approximately 400 nautical miles off the coast
of Angola. Greenpeace observed the MV Hatsukari engaged in the following
activities:
·
delivering bait to the tuna longline fishing vessel "Jackie 11"
flagged to Belize;
· taking transshipment of approximately 70 tons of big eye
tuna from the tuna longline vessel "Benny 87" flagged to Cambodia
and delivering bait to the Benny 87;
· servicing the tuna longline vessel "Jeffrey 816"
flagged to Belize. We were unable to observe the exact nature of the transaction
as it took place after dark.
All of the
above fishing vessels are flag of convenience (FOC) vessels operating
in violation of ICCAT regulations and all are on the list of unregulated
fishing vessels published by ICCAT. The MV Hatsukari, by taking transshipment
of tuna from an FOC vessel in the Atlantic is also in violation of ICCAT
regulations, specifically ICCAT Recommendation 97-11 which states that
ICCAT Contracting Parties shall "ensure that mother vessels flying
their flag only receive at-sea transshipment of ICCAT species from Contracting
Parties and Cooperating Parties…".
The MV Hatsukari
is flagged to Panama and owned by Atlas Marine Co. Ltd. of Japan. Greenpeace
brought the activities of the Hatsukari to the attention of the government
of Panama on 16 May 2000 but did not receive a response. We assume that
Panama, as flag state and a member of ICCAT, has so far completely failed
in its duty to ensure the Hatsukari does not operate in violation of ICCAT
rules.
We urge the
government of Japan as port State, market State, and country of beneficial
ownership (country of residence of the owner of the Hatsukari) to take
action. We urge you to detain the Hatsukari upon arrival in port, inspect
the vessel and conduct an investigation into the extent to which the Hatsukari
is involved in the transport and trade of FOC caught tuna. At a minimum,
we would hope the government of Japan would prevent the Hatsukari from
offloading any tuna suspected of being caught illegally - in violation
of ICCAT regulations. In addition, the government of Japan should take
steps to penalize the owner of the vessel should an investigation reveal
that the Hatsukari has been involved in the transport/trade of illegally
caught fish.
Greenpeace
will be happy to provide you and/or the relevant authorities photo and
video documentation of the Hatsukari taking delivery of tuna from the
Benny 87 and related activities mentioned above.
You may be
interested to know that Greenpeace contacted the government of Cambodia
regarding the illegal activities of the Benny 87. On May 11, 2000 Greenpeace
was informed that the Benny 87 had been deleted from the Cambodian Ship
Registry (stripped of its flag) by the Cambodian authorities as a result
of the information provided by Greenpeace. In addition, the Belize shipping
registry informed Greenpeace that the Jacky 11 has been fined and given
30 days to pay the fine or be deleted from the Belize registry, again
based on the information provided to Greenpeace. All of the above correspondence
is posted on the Greenpeace web page.
The Fisheries
Agency of Japan has taken some important initiatives over the past several
years to combat illegal and unregulated fisheries. The transshipment of
Flag of Convenience caught tuna and other fish species at sea by vessels
such as the Hatsukari provides critical support to FOC fishing fleets
worldwide and must be stopped.
We look forward to hearing from you. In the meantime, you may find further
information on Greenpeace's campaign against FOC fishing on the Greenpeace
web site at www.greenpeace.org/fish
Sincerely,
Oceans
Campaign Co-ordinator
Greenpeace International
Executive
Director, Greenpeace Japan
cc:
Minister of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries
Federation of Japan Tuna Co-operatives Associations
ICCAT Secretariat
UN FAO Fisheries Department
UN Division for Ocean Affairs and the Law of the Sea
International Transportworkers Federation
Government Ministries for Fisheries and Foreign Affairs of European Union,
Ghana, Ivory Coast, Japan, Portugal, Senegal, Spain, United States, Panama
Tuesday May 23 - Response
from Belize Shipping Registry Company
Dear Oceans Co-ordinator:
Thank you for your email correspondence concerning Belize Flagged vessels
fishing illegally in the Atlantic Ocean. This Administration has proceeded
in placing substantial fines on the respective vessels, namely Chien Chun
No. 8 and Jackie No. 11. A grace period of thirty days has been provided
in order for the shipowner to comply with our demands or have his vessel
face immediate expulsion from the Registry. Upon deletion of any of our
vessels due to illegal fishing, we will inform you accordingly in order
to update your web site. IMMARBE is taking strong actions against unregulated,
and unreported fishing by our vessels upon receipt of official reports
and maintains its strong commitment to conservation and responsible management
of the world's precious fish resources.
Best regards,
Deputy
Registrar
Tuesday May 16 - Letter to Panama Government
Mr. Jose Miguel Aleman Healey
Minister Ministry of Foreign Relations,
Mr.
Jerry Salazar
Minister Maritime Authority of Panama
Republic of Panama
16
May 2000
Dear Sirs,
At 10.00 GMT, on 7 May 2000, the MV Greenpeace observed the fishing vessel
Benny 87, flagged in Cambodia, transshipping its catch of approximately
70 metric tons of bigeye tuna to the Hatsukari, a Panama-flagged reefer/cargo
vessel owned by Atlas Marine Co. Ltd. of Japan. Both vessels were located
at 10'12" south latitude and 05'30" west longitude in the international
waters of the Atlantic Ocean, approximately 400 nautical mile west of
Angola.
The Benny 87 is part of a fleet of Flag of Convenience vessels operating
in the Atlantic Ocean fishing for bigeye and bluefin tuna, swordfish and
other migratory species in contravention of the measures established by
the International Commission for the Conservation of Atlantic Tunas. ICCAT
Recommendation 97-11, which entered into force on 13 June 1998 states
that all ICCAT Contracting Parties shall "ensure that [...] mother
vessels flying their flag only [...] receive at-sea transshipment of ICCAT
species from Contracting Parties and Cooperating Parties [...]" As
you are well aware, Cambodia is neither a Contracting nor Cooperating
Party of ICCAT.
The government of Panama, as the flag state of the reefer/cargo vessel
Hatsukari, and a Contracting Party of ICCAT, has the responsibility to
ensure that the Hatsukari and any other cargo vessels flying its flag
do not violate the measures adopted by ICCAT. We respectfully request
that the government of Panama immediately conduct an investigation and
take enforcement action against the Hatsukari consistent with Panama's
obligations under international law.
Please inform us of any action that the government of Panama intends to
take.
You may be interested to know that Greenpeace contacted the Cambodian
government concerning the fishing activities of Benny 87 in contravention
of ICCAT Measures. The Cambodian Ship Registry informed us that the Benny
87 was deleted from the Cambodian Registry on 11 May 2000 on the basis
of the information provided by Greenpeace.
On a related subject, on 12 May 2000, at 0640 GMT the MV Greenpeace observed
the MV Toyou, a reefer/cargo ship also flagged to Panama, attempting to
take delivery of tuna from the fishing vessel Hau Shen 202 flagged to
Belize. As you well know, Belize flag vessels have been repeatedly reported
to be operating in the Atlantic Ocean in violation of ICCAT measures.
Belize is neither a Contracting nor Cooperating Party of ICCAT per ICCAT
Recommendation 97-11 mentioned above.
An activist from the MV Greenpeace was invited aboard the MV Toyou and
provided the captain with a list of ICCAT member states, which are fishing
in accordance with ICCAT measures. The Greenpeace activist alerted the
MV Toyou to the fact that Belize flagged vessels are fishing in contravention
to ICCAT regulations and that ICCAT has called on flag states of refeer/cargo
vessels not to allow their vessels to accept transshipments of fish caught
by fishing vessels flagged to Belize and other states contravening ICCAT
measures. The captain professed to be unaware of the ICCAT measures the
MV Toyou was contravening and signed two written statements declaring
that the MV Toyou would not transship tuna from FOC fishing vessels.
We are pleased that the Toyou agreed not to take shipment of the tuna
caught by the Han Shen 202. However, Panama as the flag state, and a Contracting
Party to ICCAT, has an obligation to ensure that all vessels flying its
flag are fully and accurately informed of the relevant regulations and
that these vessels abide by the regulation that Panama, as flag State
is obliged to implement under international law.
We understand that the government of Panama has undertaken a serious effort
to bring fishing vessels on the Panamanian registry into compliance with
applicable regional and international fisheries management regulations.
We hope this effort will continue and that Panama as a flag State will
ultimately become a responsible fishing nation.
We urge the government of Panama to undertake a similar effort with regard
to transport vessels, supply vessels and other vessels flagged to Panama
that provide services at sea to the fishing industry.
We look forward to your response in relation to both the MV Hatsukari
and MV Toyou.
Sincerely,
Oceans Campaign Coordinator
Thursday May 11: Email From Cambodian Ship Registry confirming
removal of Benny 87 from their registry:
Dear Oceans Campaign Co-ordinator
Greenpeace International
Further to
our message dated 10 May 2000, we wish to inform you that the above-named
fishing vessel has been deleted from the Registry today (11 May 2000)
for contravention of the ICCAT rules.
The Registry
will not hesitate to take punitive action against any owner of fishing
vessel that contravened any conservation zone adopted by international
conventions.
With best
wishes,
Cambodia Ship Registry
Tuesday May 9: Letter emailed to Cambodian
Government:
Ministry of Agriculture, Forests and Fisheries,
Ministry
of Foreign Affairs and International Co-operation,
Phnom Penh
Cambodia
8 May, 2000
Dear Sirs,
On 8 May
2000, Greenpeace activists aboard the MV Greenpeace sighted the fishing
vessel Benny 87, flagged to Cambodia, at 06.30 hours GMT at position 9
degrees 07 minutes South Latitude; 4 degrees 55 minutes East Longitude
in the international waters of the Atlantic Ocean, approximately 500 nautical
miles west of Luanda, Angola.
The Benny 87 was observed fishing for tuna in contravention of the measures
adopted by the International Commission for the Conservation of Atlantic
Tunas. On 7 May, 2000 the MV Greenpeace observed the Benny 87 transhipping
an estimated 70 metric tons of bigeye tuna as well as marlin or swordfish
to the refrigerated cargo vessel Hartsukari - flagged to Panama and owned
by Atlas Marine Company Ltd., a Japanese company. Activists aboard the
MV Greenpeace informed both vessels that they were in violation of ICCAT
rules.
As you well know, Cambodia - the flag state of the Benny 87 - is not a
member of ICCAT and any non-contracting party vessel sighted in the ICCAT
convention area is presumed by ICCAT to be undermining ICCAT conservation
measures (ICCAT Recommendation 98-11).
Under international law, Cambodia, as the flag state, is responsible for
ensuring that the Benny 87 and all other fishing vessels flagged to Cambodia
do not violate the
regulations adopted by ICCAT. We therefore respectfully request that the
government of Cambodia immediately take enforcement action against the
Benny 87 consistent with Cambodia’s obligations under international
law.
Please advise us immediately of the enforcement action the
government of Cambodia intends to undertake.
Sincerely,
Oceans
Campaign Co-ordinator
Greenpeace International
cc to:
Permanent
Representative of Belize to the United Nations (New York),
ICCAT Secretariat,
UNFAO Fisheries Department,
UnitedNations Department of Ocean Affairs and the Law of the Sea,
Governments of: European Union, Ghana, Ivory Coast,
Japan, Portugal, Senegal, Spain, United States
International Transport Workers Federation
Saturday May 6: Second Letter to government
of Belize
Minister Daniel Silva,
Ministry of Agriculture and Fisheries.
Minister Said Musa,
Ministry of Foreign Affairs.
Dear Sirs,
On 6 May
2000, Greenpeace activists aboard the MV Greenpeace sighted the fishing
vessel Jackie 11 at 09' 56" South Latitude, 05' 30" East Longitude,
approximately 400 nautical miles west of Angola, in the international
waters of the Atlantic Ocean.
At 08.15
GMT, the MV Greenpeace sighted the vessel Jackie 11, flagged to Belize
and owned by SEVEN SEAS S.A. of Singapore, attempting to tranship its
catch of tuna to the Hatsukary, a Panama- flagged and Japan-owned reefer/cargo
vessel.
The Jackie
11 is clearly operating in violation of regulations established by the
International Commission for the Conservation of Atlantic Tunas (ICCAT).
As you are
no doubt aware, the Jackie 11 is one of a number of vessels, including
the CHIEN CHUN 8 which was sighted by the MV Greenpeace on 3 May, registered
to Belize that are known to fish in the Atlantic Ocean for tuna and other
highly migratory species in violation of ICCAT.
Under international
law, Belize, as the flag state, is responsible for ensuring that the Jackie
11 and all other fishing vessels flagged to Belize do not violate the
regulations adopted by ICCAT.
We therefore
respectfully request that the government of Belize immediately take enforcement
action against the Jackie 11 consistent with Belize's obligations under
international law.
We also note
the we have not received a response to our letter of 3 May, 2000 requesting
the government of Belize to take enforcement action against the Belize
flagged vessel CHIEN CHUN 8 which was observed fishing in the Atlantic
Ocean in violation of ICCAT regulations.
Please advise
us immediately of the enforcement action the government of Belize intends
to undertake.
Sincerely,
Oceans Campaign Co-ordinator
Greenpeace International
cc:
Permanent
Representative of Belize to the United Nations (New York)
ICCAT Secretariat
UN FAO Fisheries Department
United Nations Department of Ocean Affairs and the Law of the Sea
governments
of: European Union, Ghana, Ivory Coast, Japan,
Portugal, Senegal, Spain, United States
International
Transport Workers Federation
Wednesday May 3: Letter to Government
of Belize
Dear Sir,
On 3 May
2000, Greenpeace activists aboard the MV Greenpeace sighted the fishing
vessel CHIEN CHUN 8 at 09' 11" south latitude and 01' 00" west
longitude approximately 780 nautical miles west of Luanda, Angola, in
the international waters of the Atlantic Ocean.
The CHIEN
CHUN 8 is registered to Belize and was observed longline fishing for tuna
in violation of regulations established by the International Commission
for the Conservation of Atlantic Tunas (ICCAT).
The CHIEN
CHUN 8 is owned by Great Ocean Enterprise based in Belize. As you are
no doubt aware, the CHIEN CHUN 8 is one of a number of vessels registered
to Belize that are known to fish in the Atlantic Ocean for tuna and other
highly migratory species in violation of ICCAT.
Under international
law, Belize, as the flag state, is responsible for ensuring that the CHIEN
CHUN 8 and all other fishing vessels flagged to Belize do not violate
the regulations adopted by ICCAT.
We therefore
respectfully request that the government of Belize immediately take enforcement
action against the CHIEN CHUN 8 and its owner, Great Ocean Enterprise,
consistent with Belize's obligations under international law.
Please advise
us immediately of the enforcement action the government of Belize intends
to undertake.
Sincerely,
Oceans Campaign Co-ordinator
Greenpeace International
cc:
Permanent
Representative of Belize to the United Nations (New York)
ICCAT Secretariat
UN FAO Fisheries Department
United Nations Department of Ocean Affairs and the Law of the Sea
Governments of: European Union, Ghana, Ivory Coast, Japan,
Portugal, Senegal, Spain, United States,
International
Transport Workers Federation
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