"PIRATE" FACTORY TRAWLER, REJECTED BY OTHER NATIONS, SETS SIGHTS ON RUSSIA'S FAR EAST

8 July 1998

Moscow -- The controversial factory trawler American Monarch, now languishing in Seattle, has reflagged under a "flag of convenience" - referred to by Greenpeace as a "pirate flag" - and set its sights on fishing grounds off Russia's Far East, after being rejected by three Latin American nations.

One of the world's largest and most powerful fishing vessels, the American Monarch is owned by the Norwegian fishing multinational Aker/RGI. After being rejected by Chile, Argentina, and Peru, owners of the $65 million factory trawler have now registered this vessel in Vanuatu, a "nation of convenience," which does not follow international rules and regulations for fisheries. Russia's Agriculture and Food Ministry is considering granting it a licence to operate in the Sea of Okhotsk pollock fishery. The ministry's scientific and technical council has advised against the licence.

"Desperate to find a legitimate fishing ground, the American Monarch is willing to become a pirate vessel," said Greenpeace Fisheries specialist Niaz Dorry. "And in true pirate ship fashion, this one would certainly plunder the treasures of the sea, devastating fish stocks in the process."

Greenpeace has urged Russian Vice Prime Minister Boris Nemtsov to reject a licence application for the American Monarch. Both environmentalists and fishermen in the Kamchatka region of eastern Russia oppose the American Monarch's entry into the depleted pollock fishery.

"When it comes to fishing, factory trawlers are akin to Hollywood's latest version of 'Godzilla' - size does matter," said Niaz Dorry. "Three nations have rejected the American Monarch because of its potential to jeopardise their environments and fishing economies. Russia must do the same to protect the Sea of Okhotsk marine food chain from further overfishing."

Dorry said Russia's Far East has become a fishing "free-for-all," with few controls placed on fishing vessels in the region - particularly for foreign vessels. Pollock stocks are showing signs of stress across the North Pacific, Bering Sea and Sea of Okhotsk due to excessive fishing pressure.

"On the US side of the Bering Sea, the Steller sea lion, which thrives on pollock, was recently classified as an endangered species," Dorry said. "This is a clear sign not only of fish stocks in decline, but of a crisis in the entire marine ecosystem, which can be laid largely at the door of factory trawlers."

With nowhere to fish, the American Monarch has spent the past 18 months docked in Seattle, where Greenpeace tomorrow will launch a three-month nationwide bus tour across the country to call for an end to factory trawling. The organisation is supporting Senate Bill 1221, The American Fisheries Act, which would phase out factory trawlers from US waters.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION PLEASE CONTACT:

- Ivan Blokov, Greenpeace Russia, + 7-095- 257 41 16/18/22/24
- Niaz Dorry or Paul Clarke, Greenpeace USA in Seattle (206) 632-4326
- Desley Mather, Greenpeace International fisheries campaigner +33-1-534 385 86