Predators Of The Sea Always One Step Ahead Of Politicians

News from the Celtic League:

SUPER TRAWLER UPDATE: We’ve highlighted the activity of super trawlers mainly owned by conglomerates in the EU (Holland) and China that are busy scouring the worlds oceans and sweeping them clean of fish.

Waters to the West of Ireland and on an arc from the Faeroes to Mauritania, West Africa and the Indian Ocean are being swept clean of fish.

Fleets from China now using bases in Mauritania and Vigo (Spain) to target the Atlantic.

There activities were recently highlighted in the Irish documentary Atlantic (link):

http://www.irishexaminer.com/…/risteard-o-domhnaills-new-do…

However the problem is global and indeed we highlighted the activities of the ‘Damanzaihao’ (previously Lafayette) recently in the Pacific and waters of East Asia. The ‘Damanzaihao’ is the ‘daddy of them all’ a converted tanker she services around six/eight trawlers and processes up 49,000 tonnes of fish per month (link):

https://www.facebook.com/805941286121301/photos/a.806379472744149.1073741828.805941286121301/1061399320575495/?type=3&theater

Even when countries fight back the cunning trawler owners are always one step ahead.

Australia recently banned the massive super trawler Margaris however Dutch owners have got round the ban by deploying the marginally smaller Dirk Dirk renamed the Geelong Star to fish waters of Australia and Tasmania even fishing in and around marine reserves (About five days ago it was between the Beagle and Apollo Commonwealth Marine Reserves in the Bass Strait area south of Melbourne).

Here are some articles on the Geelong Star which highlight the impact vessels of this type can have. It’s even admitted now that one trawl netted a large whale shark – which was released but with no knowledge of possible survival:

http://www.tradeboats.com.au/…/5-horrific-facts-about-the-…/

http://www.geelongadvertiser.com.au/…/de70bcda32b5795b2c667…

http://www.abc.net.au/…/geelong-star-controversy-af…/7200836

The Geelong Star sweeps up all in its path fish (large and small) marine mammals and whales.

Cunning owners rename these vessels and re-register them on a regular basis. Australian politicians are once again calling for action but it seems these predators of the sea are always one step ahead!

Image: Geelong Star previously named Dirk Dirk – owners frequently change vessels names.

BERNARD MOFFATT
Public Relations Officer Mannin Branch

Issued by: The Mannin branch of the Celtic League.

TEL: 01624 877918 or 07624 491609

15/08/16

THE CELTIC LEAGUE

The Celtic League established in 1961 has branches in the six Celtic Countries including our own Mannin branch. It promotes cooperation between the countries and campaigns on a range of political, cultural and environmental matters. It highlights human rights abuse, military activity and socio-economic issues

The link for the main web pages is below:

http://celticleague.net