GREENPEACE DEMANDS EU MINISTERS TAKE ACTION AGAINST PIRATE FISHING

17 December 2001

Brussels – Greenpeace is calling on European Union Fisheries Ministers to take tough action against pirate fishing at the meeting of the Council of Fisheries Ministers that begins today.

Greenpeace is calling on the Fisheries Ministers to agree to the recommendations adopted by the European Parliament to combat pirate fishing. Among the measures proposed by the European Parliament are:

• to make it a violation for EU citizens or companies to buy or sell fish caught by fishing vessels flying Flags of Convenience (FOC)

• to ban landing of such fish products in EU harbours

• to punish EU nationals on board FOC fishing and transport vessels which operate in violation of fisheries regulations.

The Parliament also calls on the member states to discourage the transfer of fishing vessels to FOC countries and condemns the use of public money for such transfers. Many EU fishing vessels have been transferred to FOCs, in some cases using EU public money. Greenpeace is also demanding the ministers agree to the commission’s proposal to prohibit the use of EU public money for the transfer of fishing vessels to FOCs. The parliament, in the McKenna report adopted last Thursday, stresses the negative impact of FOC fishing on fish stocks and other species caught as bycatch, the unacceptable treatment of crew in terms of working conditions and safety and the unfair competition FOC vessels poses to legitimate, law-abiding fishermen. Franz Fischler, EU Fisheries Commisioner, has expressed his concern over the threat posed by pirate fishing and has called for action to eliminate the problem.

Greenpeace recently released a report on the environmental destruction caused by FOC fishing off the coasts of Guinea Conakry and Sierra Leone as well as the appalling living and safety conditions on board those fishing vessels.

"The commission and council have been given an excellent blueprint for action by the EU parliament," said Hélène Bours of Greenpeace. "We call upon the EU and the Spanish presidency to urgently adopt and implement these measures."

Greenpeace demands that governments:

• close ports to FOC fishing and support vessels;

• close markets to FOC-caught fish;

• close or otherwise prevent companies and nationals from owning or operating FOC fishing and support vessels.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION PLEASE CONTACT:
Hélène Bours, Greenpeace International, tel. +32 844 77 177 or +32 477 430 171 (mobile)
Natalia Truchi, Greenpeace International, Press Office, (m) +31 6 212 96 908