Threat To Pacific Tuna Greater Than Ever – Key Negotiations Fail In Tahiti

Papeete, French Polynesia, 11 December 2009: Greenpeace today
slammed the refusal of Asian distant water fishing nations Korea,
China, Taiwan and Japan to agree effective new measures to urgently
halt the decline of tuna stocks at the Western and Central Pacific
Fisheries Commission (WCPFC).

Despite strong calls from Pacific Island Countries to limit fishing
and widespread support to close two high seas enclaves to purse
seine fishing(1), Japan, Korea and Taiwan blocked any agreement.

The failure took place on the backdrop of warnings from the scientific
community that the catch of bigeye tuna needs to be cut by up
to 50% to ensure its survival, and that the current short ban
in place for fish aggregating devices (FADs) is insufficient
to address bycatch of juvenile bigeye tuna and other marine life.
In 2010, only a 10% catch reduction will be implemented on bigeye
and a three month ban will be in place on the use of FADs. Both
measures fall far short of scientific advice provided to the
Commission.

“It is beyond belief that Japan, Korea, China and Taiwan are
unable to follow the advice given to them by their own scientists,
and continue to prioritise short term economic gains,” said
Sari Tolvanen, Greenpeace International Oceans Campaigner in
Tahiti. “The demands of the fishing industry and the shady
international networks of fish traders should not be more important
than securing long-term sustainable supplies of tuna to their
own consumers.”

“This is an economic and social crime that is repeated in ocean
after ocean, year after year, and which will soon lead to the
disappearance of the word’s favourite fish – tuna,” continued
Tolvanen. “Markets must now take urgent action to stop the
trade of unsustainable tuna.”

Measures agreed in 2008 to ban purse seine fishing in two large
high seas pockets will come into effect in January 2010. In addition
eight of the most tuna-rich countries in the Pacific will take
unilateral measures to restrict tuna longline fishing in those
high seas pockets from January 2010. However, longline fishing
vessels that do not hold fishing licenses with those countries
can still fish tuna in the high seas areas.

Pirate fishing in the Pacific is estimated to be some of the
highest anywhere in the world(2), and further undermines the
stock estimates and management attempts of the fishery. Greenpeace
has been calling for the four high seas pockets to be to be designated
as marine reserves since 2005, and has undertaken four ship expeditions
in the region to gather evidence of the legal and illegal overfishing
taking place.

“Asian distant water fishing nations have shown that they have
no intention to work with Pacific Island Countries to conserve
tuna stocks, and ensure that the development aspirations of small
island states are met,” said Lagi Toribau Greenpeace Australia
Pacific Oceans Campaigner in Papeete. “The Pacific must now
build on the solidarity they have shown in recent years to reject
fishing by nations that are threatening their resources, livelihoods
and futures.”

Greenpeace is campaigning for a global network of fully protected
marine reserves, covering 40% of our oceans. They are essential
to ensure clean and healthy oceans and protect marine life from
overfishing and habitat destruction. Healthy oceans can also
play a vital role in building resilience against the devastating
effects of climate change.

NOTES: (1) The pockets of international waters identified by
Greenpeace as needing protection as marine reserves lie between
Pacific Island country national waters - a map showing their
locations is available athttp://www.greenpeace.org/international/campaigns/oceans/marine-reserves/pacific-tuna-need-marine-reserves

(2) Marine Resource Assessment Group (MRAG) and the University
of British Columbia (2008) “The global extent of illegal fishing”