2 Oct 2015

EU's warning to Taiwan for illegal Pacific fishing welcomed

8:32 pm on 2 October 2015

Greenpeace has welcomed a warning issued by the European Union to Taiwan for failing to curb its illegal fishing in the Pacific.

Greenpeace activists prepare to board illegal fishing vessel Shuen De Ching No 888. The Rainbow Warrior travels in the Pacific to expose out of control tuna fisheries. Tuna fishing has been linked to shark finning, overfishing and human rights abuses.
9 Sep, 2015

Greenpeace activists prepare to board illegal fishing vessel Shuen De Ching No 888. The Rainbow Warrior travels in the Pacific to expose out of control tuna fisheries. Tuna fishing has been linked to shark finning, overfishing and human rights abuses. Photo: Paul Hilton / Greenpeace

The EU issued the 'yellow card' after a pirate tuna vessel was busted fishing in Papua New Guinea waters three weeks ago.

Greenpeace says Taiwan has too many boats flying its flag with too little control.

It says Taiwan is risking international embarrassment and the economic consequences of import bans if it can't clean up its fisheries management within the next six months.

Greenpeace says Taiwan's fisheries are out of control with profit margins falling and it is recklessly breaking the law and exploiting fishermen.

Meanwhile yellow cards have been lifted from from Ghana and Papua New Guinea, which have significantly reformed their fisheries governance systems.