FAD in the Pacific Ocean

The Greenpeace ship MY Esperanza’s tour in the Pacific Ocean is part of an international campaign for clean and healthy oceans through the creation of a global network of marine reserves and effective enforcement of laws that protect ocean life. Greenpeace is monitoring the pockets of international waters that Pacific Island Countries want closed from all fishing activities in order to protect the declining tuna stocks. Already during the tour, the Esperanza has exposed illegal transshipment activities by Taiwanese ships, documented the oceans plunder by a Japanese ship and confiscated several fish aggregating devices (FADs) which are currently banned. Purse seine fishing vessels set their huge nets on these FADs taking everything with it, including a large by-catch of unwanted fish. Greenpeace is campaigning for a global network of fully protected marine reserves, covering 40% of our oceans.