Why are we here?

I don’t mean that in the big, philosophical/religious sense of, “Why are we here?”. (Although if you know the answer to the big one, drop me a line.) But as for the Rainbow Warrior and the Pacific Islands, it’s just that this is the one of the world’s last healthy fisheries. Heck, it is THE last healthy industrial tuna fishery. Sixty percent of the world’s tuna comes from here. So why is the Rainbow Warrior here instead of in one of the crisis zones?

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Well, call us dreamers, call us radicals and idealists, but we think that a healthy fishery should be managed so it stays that way. We also think that the best way to ensure a sustainable future for the Pacific fishery is to put it’s future in the hands of the people who live here. Pacific Islanders are fiercely protective of this piece of ocean because it is life and death to their communities. As Pio (Fijian oceans campaigner) puts it, “Fish are all we have.” Unfortunately, right now Pacific Islanders get very little say over how many fish are taken, and an even smaller share of the profits.

And time is running out. Seventy percent of the world's oceans are overfished or at their limit. There are simply too many boats catching too many fish. As other fisheries are overstressed or exhausted, more and more fishing boats are heading here. Within five years, big-eye and yellowfin tuna in the Pacific in trouble from over fishing unless urgent action is taken now.

Our tour will be about meeting and listening to islanders. We’ll also share with them our ideas and expertise on how to crack down on pirate fishing, and get control of the fisheries that are legally under their jurisdiction.

You can follow the tour on this website. You are also encouraged to send us your thoughts, ideas and advice.