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Find out how your country plays a role in the illegal decimation of the
Patagonian toothfish.
What do we mean by pirate fishing vessels
anyway?
Also, check out our of known pirate fishing vessels in the Southern Ocean.
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European Community
- CCAMLR member - The EC is often seen as a "pirate protector" at CCAMLR
meetings.
- Licensed fishing country - At CCAMLR's 1999 meeting, the EC
applied for an exploratory fishing permit for its member state Portugal.
- Market country - the EU has not provided CCAMLR with trade
statistics for its member States as have Japan and the US.
Belgium
Contact the Belgian government.
Visit Greenpeace Belgium.
Denmark
- Pirate home country - Denmark has been implicated as home to
pirate fishers.
Contact the Danish government.
Visit Greenpeace Denmark.
France
- CCAMLR country
- Licensed fishing country - France is one of the CCAMLR members
continuing a 'legal' fishery for toothfish despite massive uncertainty
about the impact of illegal fishing on stocks of toothfish. The presence
of legal fish on the market provides a convenient cover for the pirates
to trade their illegal fish. In November 1999 France announced its intention
to conduct further exploratory fishing.
- Sub-Antarctic fishing grounds - France has EEZs (Exclusive
Economic Zones) around its Kerguelen Island and Crozet Island territories
in the Indian Ocean sector of the Southern Ocean. France has perhaps
been the most active in taking enforcement action against pirates. France
has recently imposed high bonds and fines for illegal fishing and has
actually sunk convicted pirate fishing vessels abandoned in La Reunion
by their crews and owners. The waters around Kerguelen Island border
the Australian EEZ, both of which make up the Kerguelen plateau, a known
hot spot for pirate fishing.
- Market country - Toothfish is called Légine Austral here.
- International trade - France was the third largest exporter
of toothfish to Japan in 1998. It exports a smaller amount of toothfish
to the US.
Contact the French government.
Visit Greenpeace France.
Germany
Contact the German government.
Visit Greenpeace Germany.
Italy
Contact the Italian government.
Visit Greenpeace Italy.
Norway
- CCAMLR country
- Pirate home country - Norwegian fishing companies and interests
played a significant role in this "gold rush fishery" at its peak. It's
believed that Norwegian involvement has perhaps lessened in recent years.
The Norwegian government has introduced legislation that creates disincentives
for Norwegian vessels reflagging and/or fishing illegally in areas outside
national waters. An application for a license to fish in Norwegian waters
may be denied if the vessel or the vessel's owner has taken part in
a pirate fishery such as the toothfish fishery.
- Licensed fishing country -- Norway is one of the CCAMLR members
that has continued a 'legal' fishery for toothfish despite massive uncertainty
about the impact of illegal fishing on stocks of toothfish. The presence
of legal fish on the market provides a convenient cover for the pirates
to trade their illegal fish.
Contact the Norwegian government.
Visit Greenpeace Nordic.
Poland
Contact the Polish government.
UK
- CCAMLR country
- Sub Antarctic fishing grounds - the UK grants licenses for
toothfish fisheries in its sub Antarctic territories and in the past
it has arrested illegal vessels found fishing there”
- Licensed fishing country - UK is one of the CCAMLR members
continuing a 'legal' fishery for toothfish despite massive uncertainty
about the impact of illegal fishing on stocks of toothfish. The presence
of legal fish on the market provides a convenient cover for the pirates
to trade their illegal fish. UK vessels have fished in the area around
South Georgia.
- Market country - The UK imports toothfish (called Antarctic
sea bass here) where it is found in supermarkets, restaurants and fish
markets. Last year, the largest UK supermarket, Tesco, announced it
would not sell Antarctic sea bass due to the environmental concerns
and that it supported the Greenpeace call for a moratorium on the entire
fishery.
Contact the British government.
Visit Greenpeace U.K.
Ukraine
- CCAMLR country
- Licensed fishing country
- Pirate home country
Contact the Ukrainian government.
Spain
- CCAMLR country
- Pirate home country - Although a CCAMLR member, Spain is home
to fishing companies that own a number of toothfish pirate vessels.
Many of these companies use flags-of-convenience to hide their owners'
true identity. The latest example came to light when flag-of-convenience
country Panama took France to the International Tribunal for the Law
of the Sea over the arrest and detention of the pirate fishing vessel
"Camouco". It was confirmed that although the vessel was flagged to
Panama, two Spanish companies owned it. To date, the Spanish government
has refused to take responsibility for their nationals' part in pirate
fishing.
- Market country
- International trade - Spain is the direct source for a small
amount of toothfish currently imported into Japan.
Contact the Spanish government.
Visit Greenpeace Spain.
Sweden
Contact the Swedish government.
Visit Greenpeace Sweden.
Click on the map to find out how your region plays a role in the illegal decimation of the Patagonian Toothfish.
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