GREENPEACE SHIP ATTACKED !!!

[Anonymous]

http://www.greenpeace.org/usa/news/greenpeace-vessel-attacked

Peaceful ship attacked

Time and tuna are running out. Tempers too

JUNE, 2008

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.  

[Author]

June 4, 2008 at 12:29 PM