23 August 2006
Tuna fishermen in angry denial
by Karli, onboard the Rainbow Warrior in the Mediterranean sea.
The Rainbow Warrior is now at anchor at our authorised spot outside Marseille harbour.
We spent the day in a standoff with around 25 French industrial tuna purse-seiners surrounding us. On three occasions this boiled up... the first as we arrived, the second when we were slipping at anchor (which had been dropped in deep water for safety reasons in the first incident) - the second time we raised the anchor to move to a safer anchorage all the vessels again swarmed around us - these are multi-million euro vessels that can go any direction they like and are simply more manoeuvrable than the Rainbow Warrior. Very quickly we had to again drop the anchor.
On the third occasion one vessel came along-side and made a half-hearted attempt at boarding (we had two police on the Rainbow Warrior who deterred them) then another vessel came along our other side and doused the ship (and journalists and crew) with water, and pelted us with grapefruit, apples and eggs. The tuna vessels then all turned and headed for the harbour, where they are now blocking the entrance to both the industrial and yacht harbours, demanding that the authorities listen to them. They have so far barred the entry of one huge passenger ferry, but over the radio we now hear they are allowing them in as they have someone sick onboard.
We will stay here in Marseille until we planned to leave, 6pm tomorrow. We may not be able to hold our open boats but we are certainly getting our message across to many many more people than we would have without the assistance of the tuna fishermen.
We have had an audience for the day's proceeding sitting on a lawn overlooking the harbour, and many small boats have been out to shout and wave their support for Greenpeace and the Rainbow Warrior. We are not sure how things will go tomorrow, so stay tuned.
-- The team onboard
p.s. If you want some more background, see this feature article on the Ocean Defender's website, or this article in The Independent. And if you really want some in depth info, see our report, "Where have all the tuna gone?" (executive summary, full report - pdf files).
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Comments
Que bom seria se todos os povos soubessem que os seres que vivem nas águas são de toda humanidade e não de uma meia dúzia de profissionais da pesca.
Saibam que o peixe que enriquece o atuneiro,serve de alimento para o Africano pobre,pois peixes não conhecem fronteiras,nem nações.
Então,....preservemos o mar mediterraneo para todos os povos....para o rico e para o pobre.
E ,PARABÉNS "BRASILEIRO" aos "GUERREIROS DO ARCO-IRIS".
Juliana e Ruth
Posted by: Juliana Brasileira at August 24, 2006 3:30 AM
Go ahead guys!!!
Don't crack!!! Thanks for everything you do! That's great!
Once they will understand... I hope so...
Fred
Posted by: Fred at August 24, 2006 8:22 AM
They threw grapefruit apples and eggs huh? Well I hope you kept some of it to make a nice big tart - you can give it to the fishermen when you leave to thank them for all the publicity they have given to the plight of the Tuna in the Mediterannean! Nice work all of you!
Posted by: elaine at August 24, 2006 10:09 AM
By blocking you out they are only drawing unwanted attension to themselves. Use that opportunity to the max! :)
Posted by: Ken Rabelius at August 24, 2006 10:25 AM
Having followed your efforts throughout the Mediterranean and the sad outcome of the plight of the tuna fish. There is yet again a under laying theme that is prevelant not just for this particular problem but other problems with marine depletion. The market that fuels such actions: 'JAPAN' if figures are correct then over 90% of tuna fish ends up in the already swollen stomachs of the japanese...(pre filled with countless other marine life (especially whale meat!!!!).
They are literally 'trawling' the oceans of the earth to consume all that can physically be bought and deprieving any other people of having a stable and sustainable source of income.
The French, turks and others are only out there in their hundreds to reap the reward of the 'yen'. Surely a time will fast approach when the route cause will finally be addressed. I have stated in previous posted comments that governments should give far more support to Greenpeace and start upholding mandates that they propose!! (before there is little or nothing left except overweight sushi people floating on airbeds in the med!!)
Posted by: roy kenyon at August 24, 2006 12:19 PM
Don't they realise you're spreading the message so that they'll be able to continue feeding their families? No fish equals no food. They should wise up. We're right behind you! x
Posted by: Jodie at August 24, 2006 12:48 PM
Well done, defenders of the oceans :)
Tons of support from Amsterdam!
THANK YOU!!!!!!
Posted by: Mina at August 24, 2006 1:40 PM
As a French citizen living in South Africa I am a shame of the Marseille fisherman attitude and behaviour.They reacted like a bunch of angry gangsters.But they have well served the cause by creating first page news. The message has gone through and this is the best we could hope for.
Question and investigation from the public will follow.
I hope you continue with the fantastic and upmost important job of sensibilization of the public.I wish the crew of the Rainbow Warrior all the best and I will give you all my support in your noble mission.
Posted by: Bernard Chadrou at August 24, 2006 1:44 PM
first sorry for my bad english.
if the crew of the rainbow warrior 2 want to alert people about tuna overfishing, why don't they stay in marseille? most of french fishermen are angry & block the rainbow warrior 2, so they don't fish!! it's not THE solution, but ONE solution...
Posted by: hakim at August 24, 2006 2:45 PM
Well, i hope you people stay safe.
I cant forget, the first schip, blown up in New Zeeland, by .......!
Dont need to comment that.
Posted by: Charlie at August 25, 2006 6:57 PM
Glad you are here to defend our planet. The fishermen when their nets will be empty, will they ever think back on what happened lately ?
Posted by: yaelle at September 8, 2006 2:16 PM
Avast ye land lubbers! The ocean critters need your help!
Take action today!
