The past couple of days, we've been documenting shrimp trawlers. Although this fishery does not produce a lot of bycatch we did find starfish, capelin, sponge and eelpout but not in any quantity. Many believe this is because there is not much else to get. The shrimp fishery developed on the heels of the collapse of the groundfish in this area, including cod. It's also been heavily trawled for 20 years so its not surprising. Maybe a better image for what has happened in NAFO is the empty bycatch net.
The gear they are using is massive and you are transfixed by the size of everything. Twenty five plus tons of gear shot down onto the seabed in one go, followed by the large steel balls or rockhoppers that prevent the net from snagging and then tons of chain to weight the foot of the net which is 2-300 meters long. They work 24 hours a day, with trawls lasting approximately 7 hours. They bring the nets in, drop the catch and reset in about 40 mins. Its pretty efficient. It's hard to believe there are any shrimp left after 20 years of ploughing the Flemish cap. The fishermen say this area is too rocky and that they get too many rocks in their nets. They make no qualms about hitting the bottom in this part of the world. It's part of fishing.
NAFO has a very odd system for 'managing' the shrimp fishery in the 3M area, which we are now in. Rather than a quota, there is an effort allocation scheme which means countries get a number of days and vessels allowed to fish shrimp for the year. There doesn't seem to be any limit to how much you can catch. The fishermen we spoke to told us that the shrimp are getting smaller and the boats are getting bigger.
This is an area where there are also soft corals in residence but there is no protection in place for them. Its lucky they have not been completely destroyed by the trawlers already. We gave the trawlers some information about our campaign and spent some time talking to them about why we are here. We also asked them to tell us what they have noticed about the fishing in this area over the years.
All the Estonian and Lithuanian vessels are Icelandic skippered and crewed by underpaid Estonian and Lithuanian crew. It suggests that Iceland does this to get more shrimp 'quota' as there is only one Icleand flagged boat out here fishing for shrmp. We also heard an EU NAFO inspector calling a boat we had just filmed and saying he wanted to come aboard but the fishing boat had since we had been on board developed a winch problem and was resisting the invitation. Another boat asked for the inspector to call back and when he did they did not respond. So all is not well in the NAFO neighbourhood.
We are heading north again for the Greenland halibut fishery. We are all doing well on board although I am meeting some wind and sunburnt faces in the alleyways, eating too much good food and definitely watching too much of the movie "Team America" but generally heading in the right direction.
--Bunny
Comments
Hi Bunny,
This is the reply that I got from the Estonian Ambassador in Sweden, regarding bottom trawling and the incidents with the Lootus2.
This is a translation from Estonian:
Dear friends,
I am glad that you are reacting so openmindedly on events, that could harm our environment and cause irreparable damage to our oceans and its creatures and habitats.
In this particular case however, I must state that many times accusations against Estonian fishing boats are unfair or unjustified.
NAFO rules are strictly definable and are strictly observed.
International inspectors have not found any major violations by Estonian vessels of NAFO rules, and Estonian inspectors control as well , that the rules are being obeyed.
Regarding your remark on the Lootus 2 incident, it must be pointed out that completing control of the catches showed that the accusations were unjustified, but at the same time, it can't be excluded that some Estonian flagged vessels can be participating in unlawful activities.
Hopefully, together we can act against this crime.
Juri Kahn,
Estonian Ambassador,
Sweden
Posted by: Ann Novek at August 18, 2005 03:19 PM
Hi again,
Read that you had met an Estonian vessel named Lootus 2, funny this means Esperanza in Estonian!
Here's my letter to diiferent authorities in Estonia:
Dear Ambassador,
I am an Estonian living in Sweden. I speak Estonian but the reason why I write in English is my lack of proper terminology regarding fishing in Estonian.
I am a concerned citizen, who has been appalled and shocked by reports regarding Estonian bottom trawling practises in the North Atlantic.
Estonian bottom trawling is a shame for Estonia and is damaging Estonias reputation internationally.
Eleven countries are responsible for 95% of the bottom trawling catch on the high seas
Of these , European Union countries ( including Estonia, Latvia , and Lithuania took about 60% 0f the catch).
As you may know bottom trawling is the most destructive of ALL fishing methods.
As a Greenpeace supporter, me and my family, together with other Estonians were disgraced and embarrassed and felt disgrace over our country when reading the Greenpeace documentation on Estonian bottom trawling on the high seas.
Not only is Estonia engaged in environmental destruction, but is also allowing Estonian flagged vessels, with criminal record to continue fishing in the Northwest Atlantic management area also known as NAFO.
Excerpt from the Greenpeace documentation:
The Estonian flagged Lootus II has been cited numerous times since 2000 for breaking NAFO rules (2). The Estonian Company MFV Lootus OU is the registered owner of the Lootus II. In 2004 the Spanish company Grupo Oya Perez, through one of its subsidiaries became a shareholder of the Estonian company. Grupo Oya Perez is the owner of the notorious pirate Patagonian toothfish vessel, Ross (3). Madrus is similarly jointly owned by the Estonian registered company, MFV Lootus OU with Spanish interests.
Greenpeace is calling on Estonia and Spain to explain why it is allowing vessels, owned by a company with a criminal fishing history to continue fishing in the Northwest Atlantic management area also known as NAFO.
I am asking together with numerous other Estonians, a moratorium on bottom trawling.
Looking forward for a reply.
Best regards,
Ann Novek
Jaan Novek
Stockholm
Posted by: Ann Novek at August 4, 2005 12:40 PM
Hi Bunny and everyone,
I just read a book about the area you are in. It's called "Sea of Heartbreak" by Michael Dwyer who writes about his experiences onboard a dragger that was fishing in the area you are in. He writes about a fishing trip he took in the late 1990s for turbot and writes that their nets 'had entangled approximately twenty thousand piunds of sea creatures. Just four hundred pounds of turbot were iced in the hold." Unbelievable the waste and destruction of deep sea life for a few fish. Good to see you guys are showing everyone that it's about more than just the fish! Even in central Italy, we are watching what you are doing and very proud that you are out there defending deep-sea life.
