13 April 2006 - Las Palmas,
Spain — Activists from the Esperanza have climbed
on board an illegal cargo vessel full of fish
stolen from Guinean waters. Greenpeace and the
Environmental Justice Foundation tailed the "Binar
4" for six days, as it sailed from West Africa
to dump its pirate catch on the European market.
The team of activists will "police"
the vessel in the port of Las Palmas until Spanish
authorities move to confiscate its illegal cargo.
As the "Binar 4" waited to enter port
it was branded with the words "Stolen Fish"
- painted five times across both sides of its
hull.
On April 6th, during an investigation
into pirate fishing in West Africa - in which
more than 100 vessels were documented - the crew
of the Esperanza spotted the "Binar 4"
illegally transshipping (transferring fish from
multiple trawlers onto the cargo ship) fish from
Guinean waters. The Esperanza trailed the pirate
ship to the Spanish port of Las Palmas in the
Canary Islands where the fish were to be laundered
into the European market
"The Guinean authorities
have confirmed this ship broke the law. We will
ensure that no further laws are broken before
the authorities in Las Palmas confiscate the stolen
fish on board", said Sarah Duthie, Greenpeace
oceans campaigner.
More than 11,000 boxes of fish
are on the Binar 4, taken from one of the poorest
regions in the world. West Africa is the only
place on the planet where fish consumption is
actually falling. So far, the authorities in Las
Palmas have refused to authorize the offloading
of the illegal catch.
"We are encouraged to see
that Spain and Guinea have taken action against
this vessel and we hope that this is the beginning
of a more effective cooperation to improve control
of pirate fishing vessels attempting to enter
Las Palmas", said Helene Bours of the Environmental
Justice Foundation.
Part of Defending Our Oceans, Greenpeace and the
Environmental Justice Foundation have been carrying
out a joint investigation in West Africa during
which over 100 vessels were documented. The evidence
gathered suggests that almost half the boats observed
were engaged in, or linked to illegal fishing
activities.
