Branded a Pirate

Las Palmas, March 12th 2006: Greenpeace activists have gone aboard an illegal cargo vessel full of fish taken from Guinean waters. Greenpeace and the Environmental Justice Foundation (EJF) have been following the Binar 4 for the last six days from West Africa to Europe and the activists will continue to "police" the vessel until Spanish authorities confiscate its illegal cargo. While the ship was waiting to enter port it was branded a pirate with the slogan "Stolen Fish" painted five times across both sides of the hull.

The Binar 4 was documented by the environmental and human rights groups on April 6th, illegally transferring fish caught in Guinean waters. The Greenpeace ship MY Esperanza then followed it to Las Palmas, where it intended to launder the fish through the port and onto the European market.

"The Guinean authorities have confirmed this ship broke the law. We will ensure that no further laws are broken before the authorities in Las Palmas confiscate the stolen fish on board," said Sarah Duthie, Oceans campaigner for Greenpeace.

More than 11,000 boxes of fish are on the Binar 4, taken from one of the poorest regions in the world and the only place where fish consumption is falling. The authorities in Las Palmas have so far refused to authorize the landing of the illegal catch.

"We are encouraged to see that Spain and Guinea have taken action against this vessel and we hope that this is the beginning of a more effective cooperation to improve control of pirate fishing vessels attempting to enter Las Palmas," said Helene Bours of the Environmental Justice Foundation.

For the last three weeks Greenpeace and the EJF have carried out a joint investigation in West Africa during which over 100 vessels were documented. The evidence gathered suggests that almost half the vessels observed were engaged in, or linked to illegal fishing activities.