Pirate Fishing in Southern Ocean-- Pirate Fishing
Southern Oceans
Expedition 2000
-
-
HomeThe ExpeditionPirate FishingShip & CrewsMedia CentrePhoto GalleryMore Info
-
-
-
 -

Take Action

Greenpeace is calling for a moratorium on all fishing for toothfish and a trade ban until pirate fishing is stopped, more is known about the fish and whether commercial fishing can be sustained, and controls are put in place to make sure pirate fishing does not rage out of control again.

Here are two ways you can support our call and help protect the Southern Ocean ecosystem.

Contact your Government

Chances are, your government plays a role in the plunder of the Southern Ocean ecosystem and has the power to stop it.

Don't buy it!

  • Ask your shops not to sell it.
  • Ask your restaurants not to serve it.
  • Tell us where you find it.

    • Email: toothfish.markets@www.greenpeace.org

    The Markets

    In light of the repeated failure of governments to stop the pirates, Greenpeace believes that a moratorium on all fishing for toothfish backed by an international trade ban until the Commission for the Conservation of Antarctic Marine Living Resources (CCAMLR) gets its house in order is the only way to stop the pirates.

    If they can no longer hide their trade behind the legally-caught fish on the market then they are effectively put out of business.

    The only reason that the pirate fishery for toothfish exists is because markets are available to sell toothfish. The biggest markets for this fish are Japan, USA and Europe. Alarmingly, these countries are members of CCAMLR, the group of governments responsible for conserving this fish.

    In 1997 pirate fishing vessels illegally landed roughly 100,000 tonnes of Patagonian toothfish. The catch was worth over 500 million dollars. In some markets a single toothfish can fetch at least US $1000.

    CCAMLR licenced fishing provides a cover for illegally caught fish traded on the world markets. Consumers and fish buyers cannot be confident that a pirate vessel did not catch the toothfish in their supermarkets and restaurants.

    That's why Greenpeace believes only a moratorium on all fishing backed by a trade ban will stop the pirates before it's too late.

    Learn how retailers are beginning to see the writing on the wall.

    "A rose by any other name..."
    Supermarkets and restaurants around the world have different names for the Patagonian Toothfish but until the pirate fishing problem is brought under control consumers should avoid purchasing this product.

    United States

    Chilean sea bass

    United Kingdom

    Antarctic sea bass or Australian sea bass

    Japan

    Mero

    France

    Légine Austral

    Chile, Spain, Argentina

    Bacalao de Profundidad or Merluza Negra

    How to Identify It

    Patagonian Toothfish

    Every species is unique and the Patagonian toothfish is no exception. Customs agents could enforce a moratorium on Patagonian toothfish by conducting random checks of protein fingerprints of fish that appear to be toothfish.


    		-
    -
    -
    Join Greenpeace

    Contact Us

    International Office Address:
    Keizersgracht 176
    1016 DW Amsterdam
    The Netherlands
    Tel: ++31 20 5236222 | Fax: ++31 20 5236200

    © Greenpeace International