Greenpeace seizes 'illegal' nets from Spanish trawler
Your support helps us to tell the story
From reproductive rights to climate change to Big Tech, The Independent is on the ground when the story is developing. Whether it's investigating the financials of Elon Musk's pro-Trump PAC or producing our latest documentary, 'The A Word', which shines a light on the American women fighting for reproductive rights, we know how important it is to parse out the facts from the messaging.
At such a critical moment in US history, we need reporters on the ground. Your donation allows us to keep sending journalists to speak to both sides of the story.
The Independent is trusted by Americans across the entire political spectrum. And unlike many other quality news outlets, we choose not to lock Americans out of our reporting and analysis with paywalls. We believe quality journalism should be available to everyone, paid for by those who can afford it.
Your support makes all the difference.GREENPEACE claimed yesterday that its ship, Rainbow Warrior, had seized 'illegal' drift-nets - similar to those that sparked the 'tuna war' - from a Spanish fishing boat in the Straits of Gibraltar, writes Danny Penman.
Xavier Pastor, spokesman for Greenpeace on Rainbow Warrior, said they found 'not less than seven' boats using the nets which varied from 3 to 5km in length. The maximum length of drift-net allowed in European Union waters is 2.5km (1.6 miles). Spain prohibited their use in 1990.
He also said that the nets had no dolphin-escape panels, which many fishermen claim allow marine mammals to escape.
Greenpeace said the Rainbow Warrior encountered a fleet of about 30 Spanish drift-netters on Sunday night. They managed to pull one of the nets from the water while the crew pelted them with missiles, including lead fishing weights.
A spokesman for Ministry of Agriculture Fisheries and Food said: 'We expect the Spanish authorities to enforce the rules as we do. If Greenpeace have evidence that some fishermen are breaking the rules then they can give it to the Spanish authorities.'
Spain is seeking a total ban on drift-nets which environmentalists say are dangerously depleting fish stocks. Spanish fishermen are threatening to start using the nets for tuna fishing, rather than the traditional rod and pole method, if the EU does not ban the drift-nets.
Join our commenting forum
Join thought-provoking conversations, follow other Independent readers and see their replies
Comments