When they see the navigation lights of a ship approaching them too closely - the occupants of the small craft shine a bright light to show you where they are and you can keep out the way.

Our investigations and observations here have made us well aware of the callous and indifferent nature of the owners and crews of the pirate fishing vessels to the environment. Apart from the illegality of their fishing activities and the environmental damage that it incurs - we regularly see them dumping all their waste overboard. Even if we don't actually see it - the evidence is in front of our eyes as we steam through considerable areas of debris every day. They pump (and leak) oil and oily waste into the sea, they throw all manner of plastic and general garbage over board and they discard pieces of old nylon net - sometimes of quite considerable size - into the sea. Everything is casually and thoughtlessly chucked over the side. It's all over the area now. This is of course unlawful and contravenes the MARPOL Convention - but that doesn't bother them. They don't even care that we see them doing it.

Within this context of lawlessness and thoughtless disregard, perhaps the most stupid (and lawless) action they (the Captains specifically) indulge in is switching off their navigation lights at night. This is also the most dangerous and is in direct contravention of the Convention on the International Regulations for Preventing Collision at Sea - known to seamen as the Coll. Regs. for short. It's not even as if this could possibly aid them in their attempts to elude us. It doesn't make them invisible to us. But it does of course make them invisible to the occupants of the local canoes - often with over a dozen people on board - who fish the area at night and who rely on being able to see the navigation lights of approaching vessels.

In the early hours of Monday 3rd April 2006 M/V Elpis and two other vessels deliberately steamed at full speed without navigation lights, in a coastal area of Sierra Leone likely to be heavily congested with small local wooden canoes. They did this solely for the purpose of trying to evade identification of themselves and their lawbreaking, and with total disregard for the safety of other craft and other seafarers.

Perhaps the authorities of Sierra Leone and other West African countries should take note. Not only are these people stealing the food out of your mouths - they are prepared to kill your citizens if they get in the way.

Perhaps the authorities of the flag state (Belize) could also take note - and action.

- Pete

Close up of the Fish boxes thrown overboard from the reefer Hai Feng 830
© Greenpeace/Pierre Gleizes

Drinks can caught in fishing net
© Greenpeace/Pierre Gleizes