Greenpeace has condemned alarming conditions in Pacific fishing. According to the environmental organisation, industrial fishing is increasingly threatening biodiversity in the oceans – particularly endangered shark species. The focus is on the Spanish fishing vessel Playa Zahara, which was active in the South Fiji Basin.
Activists Stop Spanish Fishing Vessel Near New Zealand
Activists aboard the Rainbow Warrior observed three endangered mako sharks being killed in just 30 minutes. In total, the crew freed 14 marine animals – including eight blue sharks, four swordfish, and one critically endangered longfin mako shark. They also removed 20 kilometres of longlines with over 210 hooks.
Criticism and Legal Grey Areas
The crew of the Playa Zahara emphasised that they operate legally and primarily catch swordfish. The shipping company Viverdreams Fish stated that the catch complies with international regulations. Nevertheless, a Greenpeace report shows: Nearly 70 percent of the EU’s longline catches in the Pacific in 2023 consisted of blue sharks – almost 500,000 animals were recorded as bycatch.
Shark experts warn of the ecological consequences: Since sharks, as apex predators, are crucial for the balance of marine food webs, a decline in their population could have dramatic effects. Greenpeace is therefore calling for the rapid ratification of the new UN High Seas Treaty to protect biodiversity.
