GREENPEACE URGES JAPAN TO BLOCK THE LANDING OF ILLEGALLY CAUGHT TUNA

9 August 2000

SHIMIZU (JAPAN)/AMSTERDAM -- Greenpeace today called on the Fisheries Agency of Japan to prevent a shipment of illegal tuna from being landed in the Japanese port of Shimizu. Earlier this year Greenpeace documented the cargo vessel Hatsukari transshipping tuna and servicing 'pirate' or Flag of Convenience (FOC) (1) vessels fishing illegally in the Atlantic Ocean. The Hatsukari arrived in Shimizu today at 9am (local time) with a load of sashimi grade tuna destined for Japan’s lucrative sushi market.

"Vessels like the Hatsukari provide a lifeline to pirate fishing fleets worldwide and must be stopped," said Helene Bours, Greenpeace International Fisheries Campaigner. "Greenpeace is calling on Japan to block the Hatsukari from offloading its illegal cargo."

In May of this year, the Greenpeace ship MV Greenpeace found the Hatsukari on the high seas of the Atlantic Ocean several hundred nautical miles off the coast of Angola. Greenpeace documented the Hatsukari taking delivery of tuna and servicing fishing vessels from Belize and Cambodia operating illegally in the Atlantic Ocean (2).

Six Fisheries Agency inspectors boarded the Hatsukari when it arrived in port today to inspect the logbooks. The Hatsukari admits transshipping tuna from FOC vessels in the Atlantic but claimed this had already been unloaded in South Africa.

"The Hatsukari has admitted to transshipping tuna from FOC vessels," said Bours, "Japan needs to take action against this vessel to show a commitment to ending pirate fishing."

Greenpeace wrote to Mr. Isao Nakasu, Director of the Fisheries Agency of Japan on 18 July to alert the Fisheries Agency that the Hatsukari was on its way to Japan. The Hatsukari is flagged to Panama and owned by Atlas Marine Co. Ltd. of Japan.

Mitsubishi, the largest buyer of high grade (sashimi) tuna imported into Japan, announced in December that it would no longer buy FOC caught tuna from the Atlantic. Mitsubishi buys 40% of the sashimi grade tuna imported into Japan. Greenpeace has also written to the Mitsubishi Corporation calling on the company not to buy tuna onboard the Hatsukari.

Greenpeace estimates that there are over 1,300 pirate fishing vessels operating worldwide, most of which are flying the flags of Belize, Honduras, Panama and St Vincent. Pirate fishing is a threat to marine biodiversity and the interests of law abiding fishers. Greenpeace is calling on Japan and other governments to: close ports to FOC fishing vessels and fisheries-related support and transport vessels close markets to FOC-caught fish close or otherwise prevent companies from owning or operating FOC fishing vessels and related support and transport vessels.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION PLEASE CONTACT:

- Helene Bours, Greenpeace International Fisheries Campaigner, +81 90 1054 5443 (in Japan)
- Sarah Duthie, Greenpeace International Communications +31 6 25 03 10 05 (in Amsterdam)

Stills available, contact: John Novis +31 6 53 81 92 55 (stills)

Visit Greenpeace's 'Stop Pirate Fishing' campaign website www.greenpeace.org/~oceans/stoppiratefishing

(1) A "flag of convenience" country is one that allows fishing vessels to operate under its flag without having the intention to ensure that they abide by relevant regulations. Such flags are used by fishing boat owners/companies to avoid fishing conservation and management regulations as well as safety/labour standards.

(2) Greenpeace observed the Hatsukari: 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 Benny 87 servicing the tuna longlinine vessel 'Jeffrey 816' flagged to Belize. Greenpeace was unable to observe the exact nature of the transaction as it took place after dark. Under the International Commission for the Conservation of Atlantic Tunas (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." Each of the observed vessels are listed on the ICCAT list of unregulated fishing vessels and are operating in violation of ICCAT regulations.