The Greenpeace flagship Rainbow Warrior recorded illegal fishing activities by two Sri Lankan tuna and shark boats in the Maldives Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ) and the adjacent high seas on Friday before arriving in Colombo over the weekend to end a two-month expedition in the Indian Ocean. (1)

"Fisheries in the Indian Ocean are being massively overexploited. Our oceans and the billions of people around the world dependent on them need better control and enforcement of fishing regulations. If we don't act now, there may be no tuna left for future generations," said Sari Tolvanen, Greenpeace International campaigner aboard the Rainbow Warrior.

"Transshipments of fish at sea are allowing illegal fishing to go undetected. These transfers of fish at sea must be eliminated and the number of fishing vessels in the region cut to end the overfishing crisis."

Greenpeace International had earlier found two illegal Sri Lankan fishing boats in the Chagos marine reserve and has called on the UK government, which established the reserve in 2010, to enforce protection of the area. It has also urged Sri Lanka to take control of its sprawling fishing fleet. (2)

The Rainbow Warrior set sail from Durban, South Africa, in early September to Mozambique, Mauritius, Maldives and Sri Lanka. Greenpeace International held joint surveillance operations with the Mozambican Fisheries Law Enforcement department and the Maldivian coast guard to monitor the waters of these countries for pirate fishing activities. (3)

The lack of proper management and pirate fishing in the region is contributing to the demise of albacore and bigeye tuna and sharks that are targeted for the lucrative sashimi and shark fin trade.

"While in the Indian Ocean we have listened to communities, learned about fishing practices and built alliances to help the region continue to provide sustainably caught fish and jobs for future generations," Tolvanen added.

"It is crucial strong action to control fishing is taken or the region and its people who depend on fish for food security will be severely impacted."

Greenpeace is campaigning for responsible fishery management to end overfishing and to support a global network of marine reserves covering 40% of the world's oceans. Both are necessary steps to restoring our oceans to health and to maintain living oceans and ample fish for future generations.

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Notes:
1. Wooden fishing vessel with registration number IMUL-A-0632CHW was spotted fishing in the high seas between Sri Lanka and the Maldives. The boat is not registered on the Indian Ocean Tuna Commission (IOTC) and is illegal. The fishing boat IMUL-A-0508CHW was found fishing in the Maldivian EEZ where it has no license to fish.

2. Greenpeace finds illegal fishing vessels, urges UK to enforce Chagos marine reserve

3. During the joint surveillance with Mozambican authorities, an area of 133,500 sq km was covered and four foreign vessels were inspected. Monitoring of fishing activities targeting albacore tuna south of Madagascar was also conducted. In the joint surveillance operation with the Maldivian coast guard, the Rainbow Warrior monitored parts of the south-west edge of the Maldivian EEZ.