Illegal, Unreported, and Unregulated (IUU) Fishing Archives

Galician businessman Antonio Vidal, indicted by the EE.UU. authorities for pirate fishing

The Galician businessman, Antonio Vidal, has been indicted by the US Administration for attempting to fraudulently enter into that country’s market some 25,000 kilos of fish protected by international conventions, in this case Patagonian toothfish (Dissostichus eleginoides) and Antarctic toothfish (Dissostichus mawsoni). (http://www.oceana.org/fileadmin/oceana/uploads/europe/reports/cp_usdep_antonio_vidal.pdf) Both Antonio Vidal and one of his companies, Fadilur S.A., have been … Read more

Millions of euros from EU funds have been spent on the financing of driftnets, despite the fact that these are prohibited

The EU Council of Fisheries Ministers is to debate next week the management of Mediterranean fisheries. Oceana condemns the fact that the EU has spent tens of millions of Euros in its attempt to eliminate driftnets, yet there are still some 200 European fishing boats that continue to use them. “European citizens are being swindled … Read more

Oceana reports dozens of illegal italian driftnetters fishing in the Thyrrenian Sea

Along the last three weeks, the Oceana Ranger catamaran has sailed a thousand miles in the Thyrrenian sea, close to the south Italian and Sicilian coasts. The Ranger crew has been able to report the activity of dozens of fishing boats using driftnets which were banned by the European Union four years ago. These boats … Read more

Oceana intercepts two italian boats fishing with illegal driftnets

Last Friday, the research catamaran Oceana Ranger intercepted two boats using driftnets, which were fishing making use of that gear, which is prohibited by the European Union, and which even violates the contradictory Italian legislation. The Oceana boat was anchored in the port of Ponza in the late afternoon of last Thursday when it observed … Read more

Spanish musician Miguel Bosé boards the Oceana Ranger to combat drfitnet use

Miguel Bose participated for a week in the actitivities of Oceana, the international conservation organisation. The singer joined the catamaran, Oceana Ranger, during its stay in the Corsican harbour of Bastia, to work with its crew of biologists, divers and campaigners. He joined the Ranger directly from Peru where, for the previous weeks, he had … Read more

Oceana patrolling the Mediterranean in search of illegal drifnetters

At midnight Oceana’s research catamaran left the harbour of Portoferraio in Elba and headed to the fishing grounds of the Western Mediterranean, where a fleet of dozens of Italian fishing boats continue to use driftnets, in defiance of the European Union ban. Driftnets were banned from 2002 because of their total lack of selectivity and … Read more

Oceana informs that Antonio Vidal, surrended to the american authorities, had been involved in other alleged international illegal fishing activities

The conservationist organisation, Oceana, has announced that the Spanish shipowner, Antonio Vidal Pego, who has turned himself in to U.S. authorities in Miami, is being also sought by other international authorities, including INTERPORL, in three continents for pirate fishing. “We are pleased that Mr. Vidal is finally in the hands of the judicial system. The … Read more

Oceana warns that the fine imposed by the European Commission on France for commercialising undersized fish may be repeated in Spain and other european countries

Oceana has voiced its satisfaction at the exemplary decision taken by the European Commission to fine the French government 57 million euros for having allowed the capture and commercialisation of hake of a smaller size than legally permitted. In many European markets, the commercialisation of undersized hake has become standard practice, despite the fact that … Read more

Oceana calls on the Spanish Government to take unequivocal action against ship-owners involved in illegal fishing

In view of the alarming increase in detentions of Spanish fishing vessels by the coastguards of a variety of countries due to their illegal fishing activities – on this particular occasion the Galician trawler “Cantábrico III” in Irish waters – the marine protection organisation Oceana is calling upon the Spanish government to demonstrate “zero tolerance” … Read more

Oceana calls on Fisheries Ministers to halt the decline in Europe’s fisheries

As the annual negotiations to set fishing quotas for next year approach, Oceana urges Ministers not to dodge the difficult decisions that need to be made in order to prevent the collapse of many stocks. In advance of the Fisheries Council meeting, the European Commission has tabled a timid set of proposals for 2006 quotas, … Read more