Peaceful ship attacked
Time
and tuna are running out. Tempers too.
Cypriot
Channel, Turkey: Three Turkish tuna fishing vessels
surrounded the Greenpeace ship Arctic Sunrise in the Cypriot
Channel, with crew from one vessel attacking the ship with lead
weights. Greenpeace is in the area to call for an end to unsustainable
fishing and to call for the establishment of a marine reserve
between Cyprus and Turkey.
We
flew over the ships early this morning to document the activities
of tuna fishing vessels.
Three
Turkish vessels then surrounded the Greenpeace ship -- one colliding
with the Arctic Sunrise and causing superficial damage midships
on the starboard side. The tuna ship's crews then started hurling
lead fishing weights of around four centimetres at the Greenpeace
ship. Gunfire was heard. Amazingly, no one was injured but the
Greenpeace helicopter was damaged and is now inoperable.
The
Greenpeace ships Captain notified the Turkish Iskenderun Port
Authority and reported the damage.
"This
unprovoked attack against the Arctic Sunrise, a peaceful protest
ship, endangered the safety of our crew and ship and is completely
unacceptable, we urge the ships owners to instruct their crews
to return to port for an immediate investigation," said
Greenpeace International Oceans campaigner Karli Thomas, on
board the Arctic Sunrise.
The
real bad guys: governments
"We
understand that these guys are angry -- we're angry too. But
the real problem has been caused by the refusal of governments
to take action to regulate an industry that is fishing itself
to death," Said Banu Dokmecibasi, Greenpeace Mediterranean
Oceans Campaigner.
Scientists
from the international body which regulates tuna fishing, ICCAT,
recommended a maximum sustainable catch of 15,000 tons of bluefin
tuna, to be divided among all the countries licensed to fish
in the Mediterranean. The Turkish fleet comprises more than
200 purse seiners in total, with enough catch capacity to fish
the entire 15,000 tons. Turkey has an allocated quota of less
than 900 tons.
We're
calling on the Turkish government to support the protection
of the Cypriot Channel, one of the most productive tuna breeding
areas in the Eastern Mediterranean, as a marine reserve. The
Turkish government should immediately revoke all permits for
domestic fleets to fish in the channel. "Marine reserves
are urgently needed to protect the future of marine life, including
tuna. The population of tuna is close to extinction - if we
don't protect the breeding and spawning grounds now there will
be no fish for the future. By protecting tuna, fishermen can
protect their own future." Said Banu Dokmecibasi, Greenpeace
Mediterranean Oceans Campaigner.
Greenpeace
is campaigning for a global network of fully protected marine
reserves covering 40 percent of our oceans as an essential way
to protect our seas from the ravages of climate change, to restore
the health of fish stocks, and protect ocean life from habitat
destruction and collapse. As part of this campaign, the Arctic
Sunrise is currently in the Mediterranean documenting threats
to the sea and promoting the designation of marine reserves.
At
the same time, our vessel Esperanza is calling for marine reserves
in the Pacific. You can add your voice to our efforts without
risking seasickness or getting anything thrown at you.
Take
action
Give our oceans a chance to recover. Save one of the life support
systems a warming planet needs. Join the call for a global network
of marine reserves.
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