Pirate fishing boats scuppered
In April, the European Union lifted a ban on the import of tuna and swordfish products from a number of countries. Previous lax regulation and poor enforcement was allowing illegal fishing to take place among the fleets of Belize, Honduras, St Vincent and the Grenadines, endangering Atlantic stocks of tuna and swordfish. However, recent firm domestic government action to stamp out this pirate fishing has led to the ban being lifted.
At the same time the EU imposed new bans on Bolivia, Cambodia, Georgia, Sierra Leone and Equatorial Guinea, for failing to properly regulate their fishing industries.
Fabio Olmos
Pirate fishing is responsible for much of the decline of albatrosses. Here a Black-browed Albatross has become caught on a longline
BirdLife greatly welcomes this action. It will put pressure on the pirate longline fishing responsible for much of the decline of albatrosses and petrels, due to a total disregard for the vast number of seabirds killed in the indiscriminate pursuit of fish.
"The action taken by Belize against pirate fishing has been exemplary. Hopefully more key countries will now follow their lead and deal firmly with this modern day scourge of the seas." —Dr Euan Dunn, Head of RSPB Marine Policy
The effect has been most dramatic in Belize, where over 500 offending fishing vessels were removed from the country's register between 2001 and 2003, effectively getting rid of these 'Flag of Convenience' boats. This action has been backed-up by new legislation and measures to control the remaining fleet.
In April, the European Union lifted a ban on the import of tuna and swordfish products from a number of countries. Previous lax regulation and poor enforcement was allowing illegal fishing to take place among the fleets of Belize, Honduras, St Vincent and the Grenadines, endangering Atlantic stocks of tuna and swordfish. However, recent firm domestic government action to stamp out this pirate fishing has led to the ban being lifted.
At the same time the EU imposed new bans on Bolivia, Cambodia, Georgia, Sierra Leone and Equatorial Guinea, for failing to properly regulate their fishing industries.
Fabio Olmos
Pirate fishing is responsible for much of the decline of albatrosses. Here a Black-browed Albatross has become caught on a longline
BirdLife greatly welcomes this action. It will put pressure on the pirate longline fishing responsible for much of the decline of albatrosses and petrels, due to a total disregard for the vast number of seabirds killed in the indiscriminate pursuit of fish.
"The action taken by Belize against pirate fishing has been exemplary. Hopefully more key countries will now follow their lead and deal firmly with this modern day scourge of the seas." —Dr Euan Dunn, Head of RSPB Marine Policy
The effect has been most dramatic in Belize, where over 500 offending fishing vessels were removed from the country's register between 2001 and 2003, effectively getting rid of these 'Flag of Convenience' boats. This action has been backed-up by new legislation and measures to control the remaining fleet.