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Greenpeace Wages Tuna Wars

Group goes after 'plunderers' wiping out Pacific stocks at unsustainable rates

By Rob Quinn, Newser Staff

Posted Apr 23, 2008 6:51 AM CDT

(Newser) – The world's tuna stocks are in danger, and Greenpeace is taking matters into its own hands, reports the Times of London. Faced with little action from regulators and boosted by success in tackling Japanese whalers, activists have vowed to continue to "interfere" with boats they say are plundering Pacific tuna at an unsustainable rate.

Activists have already harried or boarded several boats from South Korea, Taiwan, and the US, and say they have confiscated some of the high-tech fishing equipment that makes modern ships able to catch more tuna in days than fisherman from small Pacific countries that depend on tuna can catch in a year. "Both time and tuna are running out," warned a Greenpeace campaigner.

[Images (4)]

[Videos (1)]

Greenpeace climbers hang a giant banner, reading 'Time and Tuna are running out." (Getty Images (by Event))

Japanese fishermen catch tuna fish. Greenpeace has begun a campaign to target the Pacific tuna catch. (Getty Images)

Greenpeace activists on a rubber boat leave U.S. tuna purse seiner Cape Finisterre after painting the side of the vessel with the words "TUNA OVERKILL" Sunday, April 20, 2008 in the Pacific. (AP Photo/Greenpeace, Paul Hilton, HO)

Greenpeace activists on a rubber boat approach U.S. tuna purse seiner Cape Finisterre, holding a banner reading "Marine Reserves Now." (AP Photo/Greenpeace, Paul Hilton, HO)

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A Greenpeace campaigner discusses the threat to the world's tuna supply. (jim206)

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Greenpeace Wages Tuna Wars