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Breaking News from America's Progressive Community... 1999
Releases
The press releases posted here have been provided to NewsCenter by the one of the many progressive organizations we have selected to participate. If you would like more information about this press release, you should contact the organization directly. |
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| MARCH
18, 1999 1:44 PM FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE CONTACT: Greenpeace Arnaud Apoteker, Greenpeace Intl, mobile +230 250 17 51 (Mauritius) Denise Boyd, Onboard the MV Arctic Sunrise, +873 130 25 77 Matt Gianni, Greenpeace Intl, t. +31 20 52 36 279 (Amsterdam) |
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| Mauritius Finds Toothfish Onboard Pirate Ship Chased By Greenpeace For 16 Days | ||||
| INDIAN
OCEAN - March 18 - A Mauritius inspection team has found about 170
tons of toothfish onboard the
pirate fishing vessel that Greenpeace caught fishing in the Southern Ocean. It
appears that the team's findings will show irregularities regarding the
Salvora's log book and the fishing areas it claimed to be fishing. Mauritius is
yet to release the report from the investigation.
The inspection team that boarded the Salvora yesterday, while it was still outside Port Louis (Mauritius), includes a French fisheries specialist from the nearby island of La Reunion. Greenpeace found the Salvora fishing illegally in the French Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ) around the sub-Antarctic Kerguelen Island on March 2. The vessel immediately ran from the Greenpeace ship MV Arctic Sunrise and a 3000 mile, 16-day chase across the Southern Ocean and North to Mauritius ensued. "The discovery of toothfish onboard the Salvora is yet more evidence that this vessel has been fishing illegally for this fish that is threatened with extinction," said Greenpeace's Arnaud Apoteker in Mauritius. Greenpeace has called on Mauritius to ensure that the Salvora does not unload its catch and is not allowed to leave port until enforcement action is taken against the pirate vessel. "The Mauritius government must release the findings of the inspection immediately and ensure that enforcement action is taken against the Salvora," said Apoteker. The Mauritius government has told Greenpeace that the toothfish would not be unloaded until the situation is resolved. Up to 90% of the total Patagonian Toothfish catch is taken by illegal and unregulated longliners. Scientists believe Patagonian Toothfish will be commercially extinct within three years if illegal fishing is not stopped. "Enforcement action for illegal fishing must be tough enough to deter the pirates from their illegal activities," said Apoteker. Mauritius is a known port for the landings of illegally caught Patagonian toothfish caught in the Southern Oceans. The Salvora's shipping agent in Mauritius was today quoted in local newspapers as saying that the Salvora had operated from Mauritius for the past two years. The Australian government has already found the Salvora guilty of illegally fishing in the Australian EEZ around Heard and McDonald islands. "In one illegal fishing trip a pirate vessel can catch more than one million dollars worth of fish. The Salvora's blatant disregard for the law proves the penalties are not tough enough." ### |
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