Esperanza West Africa Expedition 2014
Esperanza West Africa Expedition 2014 Summary of findings from 26 October – 21 November 2014 in the Exclusive Economic Zones of Senegal, Guinea-Bissau and Guinea
May 2015 Page 0 of 28
Esperanza West Africa Expedition 2014
Abbreviations AIS
Automatic Identification System
DWF
Distant Water Fishing
EEZ
Exclusive Economic Zone
EU
European Union
FAO
Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations
MCS
Monitoring, Control and Surveillance
MMSI
Maritime Mobile Service Identity
IUU
Illegal, Unreported and Unregulated
RHIB
Rigid Hull Inflatable Boat
Front cover image: The Greenpeace ship Esperanza was in West African waters. Š Jiri Rezac / Greenpeace
Back cover image Artisanal Fishing Pirogues in West African waters. Š Jiri Rezac / Greenpeace Page 1 of 28
Esperanza West Africa Expedition 2014
Summary The depletion of Africa’s marine resources is part of a global fisheries crisis. West African waters are among the most productive waters in the world and if properly managed, African fisheries could provide food and livelihoods for millions of people. Yet, the lack of efficient fisheries management systems and the weak governance by West African governments have allowed Distant Water Fishing (DWF) companies to plunder marine resources at a low cost and with quasi impunity. For nearly 20 years, Illegal, Unreported and Unregulated (IUU) fishing has been recognized by the international community as a major factor in the depletion of marine resources. Greenpeace has been documenting IUU fishing activities in West Africa since 2001. Despite several instruments adopted to combat that scourge, IUU fishing is, unfortunately, still rampant. From 26 October to 21 November 2014, the Greenpeace ship MY Esperanza sailed through the EEZs of Senegal, Guinea-Bissau and Guinea to highlight ongoing overfishing and document illegal and destructive fishing operations in West Africa. The Esperanza operated with the support of a helicopter, recorded potential IUU fishing operations, including through radar detection. The Esperanza collected evidence of fishing operations which were in contravention of the relevant coastal States’ legislations in force at the time of observation, such as fishing in areas where industrial fishing is prohibited. Many types of common infractions, such as unauthorized mesh size or gear, wrong target species or excessive levels of by-catch could not be documented as this can only be achieved through an inspection on board fishing vessels. During 26 days of documentation at sea, 134 different vessels were sighted in the EEZs of Guinea-Bissau, Guinea and Southern Senegal. The position of the vessels in the EEZs, their flags and types are shown in Table 2.1 in Chapter 2. During the time spent at sea, Greenpeace Africa and Greenpeace East Asia observed in total 53 potential illegal fishing activities, carried out by 32 vessels flagged to China, Korea, Comoros, Morocco and Senegal flagged vessels in the EEZs of Guinea-Bissau and Guinea. Potential infractions observed included:
fishing in areas where industrial fishing is prohibited;
fishing without a license or license expired1;
transshipping at sea.
All cases observed are classified by flag States and types in table 2.2 in Chapter 2. In addition to these, according to our observations there are numerous cases of wrong information transmitted by the AIS systems of these vessels, including misreporting of the vessel's name, MMSI number and/or position. Greenpeace Africa and Greenpeace East Asia urge all flag States, States of beneficial ownership of the fishing vessels involved in the potential illegal fishing activities documented during this trip, as well as West African coastal States: - To immediately investigate these potential IUU fishing activities - To put effective measures in place, to prevent, deter and eliminate IUU fishing in West African waters, and ensure the environmentally sustainable and socially equitable exploitation of marine resources. 2
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Esperanza West Africa Expedition 2014
Content Abbreviations...........................................................................................................................................................1 Summary..................................................................................................................................................................2 1.
Introduction .....................................................................................................................................................4 1.1.
Routes and methods ............................................................................................................................5
1.2.
Relevant Fisheries legislation in Senegal, Guinea-Bissau and Guinea..................................................6
2. Summary of findings ............................................................................................................................................8 3. Potential IUU Cases ...........................................................................................................................................13 3.1. Chinese-flagged vessels ..........................................................................................................................13 3.1.1. Vessels owned by Dalian Bo Yuan Overseas Fisheries Co. Ltd. ...................................................13 3.1.2. Vessels owned by Dalian Lian Run Overseas Fisheries Co. ltd. ...................................................15 3.2. Korean-flagged vessels ...........................................................................................................................18 3.3. Transshipment between the Flipper 3 and the Saly Reefer ...................................................................19 3.4. Senegalese-flagged vessels in Guinea-Bissau and Guinea .....................................................................21 3.5. Automatic Identification System (AIS) Misreporting ..............................................................................22 4. Conclusions and Recommendations..................................................................................................................23 Annex 1. Summary of observations.......................................................................................................................24 Annex 2. Marine charts, maps and legal texts referenced in this report: .............................................................27 References .............................................................................................................................................................28
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Esperanza West Africa Expedition 2014
1. Introduction West African waters in the central eastern Atlantic Ocean have traditionally been home to thriving fisheries within the rich Canary Current Large Marine Ecosystem, which extends from northwest Africa to GuineaBissau.3 The region is heavily dependent on fisheries in terms of people’s livelihood, employment as well as food security. Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) of the United Nations estimates that fish has been an important commodity in local economies of many West African coastal countries for centuries.4 But decades of intense exploitation resulted in over 50% of fisheries resources in West African waters being overfished.5 Between 1950-2009, more than 250 species or groups of species were reported in fish landings taken by coastal States and 47 distant water fishing nations, and the total reported nominal catches increased almost twelve fold in that period, from about 300,000 tonnes in 1950 to 3,600,000 tonnes in 2009.6 Local coastal communities have suffered from the invasion by large numbers of industrial fishing vessels from Asia, Russia and the EU. In the absence of adequate regulatory frameworks and science-based management plans to ensure sustainable and equitable fishing activities, destructive and excess fishing capacity is out of control. In addition to the challenge of overfishing and the lack of a conservation-oriented and precautionary management framework, African fisheries are plagued by illegal, unreported and unregulated (IUU) fishing activities. Available research estimates that total catches in West Africa could be actually 40% higher than reported catches7. The total loss from IUU fishing in Sub-Saharan Africa EEZs has been estimated to be around 937 million USD8. Such estimates tend to be based on scarce, incomplete data or extrapolations, because much of IUU fishing still remains undetected. Its real extent and impacts are unknown and most probably largely underestimated. Local artisanal fishermen have been complaining about shrinking catches and rising costs and workload. They are forced to travel further to catch fish and often have to compete for space with industrial trawlers in dangerous waters, increasing the risk of accidents at sea. Regardless, West African countries continue to sell fishing rights, often justified by economic interests. However, due to excessive fishing capacity in their waters, lack of sustainable management and efficient control, the consequences are IUU and overfishing.
Aiming to highlight the ongoing overfishing crisis due to illegal and destructive fishing in West Africa, the Greenpeace ship Esperanza documented fishing operations in the EEZs of Senegal, Guinea-Bissau and Guinea, from 26 October to 21 November 2014. As a result, 53 potential infractions, including vessels fishing without a valid fishing license, vessels fishing in a prohibited area and unauthorized at-sea transshipments were documented. Greenpeace also witnessed the destructive nature of these fisheries, particularly as a result of trawling in extremely shallow waters – even less than 10 m deep – and very high by-catch rates.
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Esperanza West Africa Expedition 2014
1.1.
Routes and methods
The Esperanza set sail from Funchal, Madeira on 19 October 2014. From 26 October to 20 November, the Esperanza sailed through the EEZs of Guinea-Bissau and Guinea. On 21 November, the Esperanza sailed across the South of the Senegalese EEZ, off Casamance, and documented the fishing activities there on its way back to Funchal, where it arrived on 27 November 2014. The documentation was done using the helicopter and the Esperanza’s rigid hull inflatable boats (RHIBs), with the help of the radar to detect fishing operations in prohibited areas. It was obvious from our observations that the vessels were more likely to enter prohibited fishing areas at night. However, sometimes there was not enough time or appropriate weather to deploy a RHIB to document the vessel in time, so the ship’s radar was used to support the identification of that type of illegal fishing operations. After every helicopter flight, the sighted vessels and flight tracks were plotted on a GIS system so as to compile an overview of the documented fishing activities. Map 1.1. Itinerary of the Esperanza during the documentation period
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Esperanza West Africa Expedition 2014 10
Map 1.2. Helicopter flights conducted during the documentation period
Relevant Fisheries legislation in Senegal, Guinea-Bissau and Guinea
1.2.
The legislation applicable at the time of observation of the activities described in this report differs in the three countries concerned. In particular:
Industrial fishing11:
-
In Guinea-Bissau: prohibited inside the territorial sea (12 nautical miles from the base line)12
-
In Guinea: prohibited inside 12 NM from the base line and within the 20 meter isobath13
-
In Senegal: certain categories of industrial vessels are authorized to fish up to 6 miles from the coast14
Transshipment at sea:
-
In Guinea-Bissau allowed under certain conditions15
-
In Guinea prohibited as a general rule since at least 2004 until 201316. In July 2013, a Presidential Decree established a clear prohibition of transshipment at sea17 which was replaced, in January 2014, by another Decree18. The latter, referred to in the 2014 management plan19, prohibits transshipment at sea but implies that it can be authorized under certain conditions.
-
In Senegal, prohibited except in case of force majeure20
Licenses Page 6 of 28
Esperanza West Africa Expedition 2014
-
In all three countries, all vessels engaged in fishing operations are required to have a valid fishing license.
This is further complicated by the fact that some Governments seem to consider that bilateral governmental access agreements, take precedence over national legislation, sometimes establishing weaker provisions as in the case of those concerning by-catch allowances, transhipment conditions and vessel position monitoring, among others.
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Esperanza West Africa Expedition 2014
2. Summary of findings During 26 days of documentation at sea, 134 different vessels were sighted in the EEZs of Guinea-Bissau, Guinea and Southern Senegal. These vessels were flagged to 7 different countries: China, Comoros, Guinea, Korea, Morocco, Panama and Senegal. These include different types of vessels: 122 fishing vessels, 7 reefers (refrigerated transport vessels), 2 supply vessels, 2 patrol boats and 1 oil tanker. The vessels’ positions, flags and types are shown in Table 2.1, and a summary table for each vessel is provided in Annex 1. Table 2.1. Vessels sighted during 2014 the Esperanza Expedition a)
By flag State EEZ
Flag
Senegal
China 13 (11 Chinese owned)
Senegal
Guinea-Bissau
Guinea
Total
51
28
79
1
14
28
6
6
Comoros Guinea
3
1
4
Korea
3
1
4
Morocco
2
2
Panama
1 (Chinese owned)
1
unknown
10 (9 possibly flagged to Guinea, 1 possibly flagged to China)
9
Sum of above
68
53
134
Senegal
Guinea-Bissau
Guinea
Total
fishing vessels
13
43
66
122 (121 trawlers)
reefers
0
7
0
7
supply vessel
0
1
1
2
Patrol boat
0
1
1
2
oil tanker
0
1
0
1
Sum of above
13
53
68
134
b)
13
By vessel type
Type
EEZ
In total 53 potential infractions committed by 32 vessels have been identified, including: 1) two Chinese-flagged vessels fishing inside the 12 NM zone (Bo Yuan 9 and Lian Run 26);
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Esperanza West Africa Expedition 2014
2) twelve Chinese-flagged vessels fishing inside the 20 m isobath zone (Bo Yuan 1, Bo Yuan 2, Bo Yuan 5, Bo Yuan 6, Bo Yuan 7, Bo Yuan 8, Bo Yuan 9, Liao Pu Yu 15095, Lian Run 26, Lian Run 33, Lian Run 37 and Lian Run 38); 3) one Korean-flagged vessel fishing but the license has expired 21(Hae Jeong 3); 4) three Korean-flagged vessels fishing inside the 20 m isobath zone (Medra, Seo Jin 1 and Tae Woong 608); 5) one Comoros-flagged vessel fishing but the license had expired(Flipper 3); 6) one at-sea transshipment between the Flipper 3 and the Saly Reefer, but the Flipper 3’s license had expired 7) 2 Senegalese-flagged vessels fishing but not on the official list of authorized vessels; nine Senegalese-, one Guinea- and one Moroccan-flagged vessels were on the official list of authorized vessels but the license has expired. 8) one vessel fishing inside the 20m isobath zone, nationality unknown. In Guinea, a total of 24 potential infractions were documented. 16 of these were committed by Chineseflagged vessels, 6 by Korean-flagged vessels, 1 by a Senegalese-flagged vessel and 1 unknown. In Guinea-Bissau, a total of 29 potential infractions were documented. Out of which 17 were committed by Senegalese-flagged vessels, 4 by Korean-flagged vessels, 4 by Guinean-flagged vessels, 2 by Comoros-flagged vessels, and 2 by Moroccan-flagged vessels. These cases are described in more detail in Section 3.1-3.4. Table 2.2. Potential infractions sighted during the Esperanza Expedition 2014 (Time: UTC-1) Types of Infraction Fishing inside 12 NM zone (prohibited zone for industrial fishing vessels) Fishing inside the 20m isobath (prohibited zone for industrial fishing vessels)
Vessel Name
Date and time observed
Flag
EEZ
Bo Yuan 9
19 Nov 2014, 5:30
China
Guinea
Lian Run 26
7 Nov 2014, 2:56
China
Guinea
Bo Yuan 1 Bo Yuan 2 Bo Yuan 5
28 Oct 2014, 7:54 28 Oct 2014, 7:56 16 Nov 2014, 15:22 28 Oct 2014, 8:03 18 Nov 2014, 8:23 19 Nov 2014, 7:47 28 Oct 2014, 7:55 28 Oct 2014, 7:45 28 Oct 2014, 8:10 28 Oct 2014, 7:46 19 Nov 2014, 23:10 19 Nov 2014, 23:10 18 Nov 2014, 14:41 19 Nov 2014, 23:10 1 Nov 2014, 8:41 13 Nov 2014, 14:02 18 Nov 2014, 14:25 13 Nov 2014, 13:49 18 Nov 2014, 14:20 18 Nov 2014, 2:29 28 Oct 2014, 7:38
China China China
Guinea Guinea Guinea
China
Guinea
China China China China China China China China
Guinea Guinea Guinea Guinea Guinea Guinea Guinea Guinea
Korea
Guinea
Korea
Guinea
Korea Unknown
Guinea Guinea
Bo Yuan 6 Bo Yuan 7 Bo Yuan 8 Bo Yuan 9 Liao Pu Yu 15095 Lian Run 26 Lian Run 33 Lian Run 37 Lian Run 38 Medra Seo Jin 1 Tae Woong 608 Benty 1
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Esperanza West Africa Expedition 2014
Types of Infraction Fishing but not on the official list of authorized vessels On the official list of authorized vessels but the license had expired
Vessel Name Borom
Date and time observed 30 Oct 2014, 8:21
Flag Senegal
EEZ Guinea-Bissau
Kambal III
28 Oct 2014, 18:00
Senegal
Guinea
Flipper 3
12 Nov 2014, 7:29 29 Oct 2014, 7:56 31 Oct 2014, 10:56 11 Nov 2014, 19:49 13 Nov 2014, 7:28 26 Oct 2014, 9:16 29 Oct 2014, 21:28 30 Oct 2014, 17:51 12 Nov 2014, 7:45 26 Oct 2014, 10:01 30 Oct 2014, 8:35 30 Oct 2014, 8:28 26 Oct 2014, 9:14 12 Nov 2014, 11:56 26 Oct 2014, 9:10 29 Oct 2014, 7:51 31 Oct 2014, 10:49 30 Oct 2014, 8:27 30 Oct 2014, 7:26 12 Nov 2014, 11:46 29 Oct 2014, 8:02 31 Oct 2014, 10:49 11 Nov 2014, 20:01 13 Nov 2014, 7:31 28 Oct 2014, 20:05 4 Nov 2014, 16:11 13 Nov 2014, 7:46
Comoros
Guinea-Bissau
Guinea
Guinea-Bissau
Korea
Guinea-Bissau
Morocco
Guinea-Bissau
Senegal
Guinea-Bissau
Senegal
Guinea-Bissau
Senegal
Guinea-Bissau
Senegal
Guinea-Bissau
Senegal
Guinea-Bissau
Senegal
Guinea-Bissau
Senegal
Guinea-Bissau
Senegal
Guinea-Bissau
Senegal
Guinea-Bissau
Comoros
Guinea-Bissau
Poilao
Hae Jeong 3
Fishemar 2 Anta Starr Betty Ile de Carabane Marcantonio Bragadin Ria de Dakar Santana
Saturnia
Segundo San Rafael Sona Transshipment between a reefer and a fishing vessel without a valid license
Flipper 3 and the 30 Oct 2014, 17:10 Saly Reefer
Only a few fishing vessels in the area had an Automatic Identification System (AIS) device activated. Several cases were observed where the vessel's name, MMSI number and/or position were wrongly reported. AIS information can be easily manipulated and there are no mechanisms that ensure that this information is reliable or consequences following manipulation of the AIS information (see section 3.5).
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Esperanza West Africa Expedition 2014 Map 2.1. Fishing vessels sighted during the documentation period.
2223
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Esperanza West Africa Expedition 2014
Besides the transshipment between Saly Reefer and Flipper 3, three other at-sea transshipments were documented, all in the waters of Guinea-Bissau: – between Hai Feng 895 and CNFC 9305, on 13 November; – between Hai Feng 896 and CNFC 9308, on 13 November; – between Hai Feng 895 and CNFC 9510, on 14 November; Based on available information, it is not possible to determine whether these operations were duly authorized and conducted according to legal requirements. But, although Guinea-Bissau law provides for the authorization of transshipment at sea under certain conditions, given the lack of monitoring and control capacity, some transshipment operations are bound to escape supervision.
Map 2.2. At sea transshipment and supply activities in Guinea-Bissau and Guinea
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3. Potential IUU Cases 3.1. Chinese-flagged vessels 3.1.1. Vessels owned by Dalian Bo Yuan Overseas Fisheries Co. Ltd. Summary: The Bo Yuan 9, belonging to Dalian Bo Yuan Overseas Fisheries Co. Ltd.(Dalian Bo Yuan), was found fishing inside the 12 NM zone. The vessels Bo Yuan 1, Bo Yuan 2, Bo Yuan 5, Bo Yuan 6, Bo Yuan 7, Bo Yuan 8, Bo Yuan 9 and Liao Pu Yu 15095 were found fishing inside the 20 m isobath. On 19 November while sailing along the 12 NM territorial waters limit, a vessel was detected at 03:50h on the radar of the Esperanza. The vessel was inside the 12 NM zone and at trawling speed. At around 05:45h a RHIB was put in the water and at 06:12h the RHIB met the vessel which was identified as Bo Yuan 9. At 07:50h helicopter footage was obtained from the same vessel, steaming but still showing a big amount of fish being sorted on deck. The whole sequence from 03:50h to 07:50h was recorded through radar screenshots at least every five minutes. At no time was the target lost on the radar screen. Image 3.1.1.1. Target 51 corresponds to Bo Yuan 9, inside the 12 NM zone (dotted line), making 3.9 knot.
The Bo Yuan 1, Bo Yuan 2, Bo Yuan 6, Bo Yuan 7, Bo Yuan 8, Bo Yuan 9 and Liao Pu Yu 15095 were found fishing on 28 October 2014 inside the 20 m isobath by the helicopter. The Bo Yuan 5 was also found by the helicopter inside the 20m isobath on 28 October 2014, and the Bo Yuan 6 on 18 November and 19 November 2014. Page 13 of 28
Esperanza West Africa Expedition 2014 Image 3.1.1.2. On 28 Oct. 2014, Bo Yuan 9 was found illegally fishing inside the 20m isobath zone. The vessel was also found fishing inside 12 NM zone on 19th Nov 2014 Š Jiri Rezac / Greenpeace
Map 3.1.1.1. Dalian Bo Yuan vessels sighted during the documentation period.
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3.1.2. Vessels owned by Dalian Lian Run Overseas Fisheries Co. ltd. Summary: The Lian Run 26, belonging to Dalian Lian Run Overseas Fisheries Co. ltd.(Dalian Lian Run), was found fishing inside the 12 NM zone. The Lian Run 26, 33, 37 and 38 were found fishing inside the 20m isobath. On 7 November while sailing along the 12 NM territorial waters limit, a vessel was detected at 02:45h in the radar of the Esperanza. The vessel was inside the 12 NM zone and moving at trawling speed. At around 03:30h a RHIB was put in the water and at 04:00h the RHIB met the vessel which was identified as Lian Run 26. The whole sequence from 02:45h to 04:00h was recorded through radar screenshots every minute. At no time was the target lost on the radar screen. Image 3.1.2.1 Target 68 corresponds to Lian Run 26, inside the 12 NM zone (dotted line), making 2.0 knot.
26
The Lian Run 37 was found fishing on 18 November 2014 inside the 20 m isobath by the helicopter. On 19 November 2014 while sailing along the 12 NM territorial waters limit, four vessels were detected at 22:00h on the radar of the Esperanza. The vessels were likely to be inside the 20 m isobath and moving at trawling speed. The weather did not allow launching a RHIB immediately. At around 00:10h a RHIB was put in the water and identified the Lian Run 26, Lian Run 33 and Lian Run 38. A fourth target was missed. The whole sequence was recorded through radar screenshots every minute and at no time was the target lost on the radar screen. The positions of the vessels were plotted later on a chart. The Lian Run 33 , 36 and 38 were found inside the 20 m isobath. Page 15 of 28
Esperanza West Africa Expedition 2014 Image 3.1.2.2 Target 2 corresponds to Lian Run 33, target 5 corresponds to Lian Run 26 and target 94 corresponds to Lian Run 38.
Image 3.1.2.3. Radar screenshot (image 3.1.2.1) overlay with the 20m isobath. Target 2 corresponds to Lian Run 33, target 5 corresponds to Lian Run 26 and target 94 corresponds to Lian Run 38. All three vessels were moving at trawling speed inside the 20m isobath.
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Esperanza West Africa Expedition 2014 Image 3.1.2.4. On 7 Nov. 2014, Lian Run 26 was found fishing inside the 12 NM zone. The vessel was also found fishing inside 20m isobath on 19th Nov. 2014 Š Gavin Newman/ Greenpeace
Map 3.1.2.1 Dalian Lian Run vessels sighted during the documentation period.
27
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3.2. Korean-flagged vessels Summary: The Korean vessel Hae Jeong 3 was found fishing in Guinea-Bissau, although it was included in the lists of licensed vessels available to us at the time, the license had expired. The Korean vessels Medra, Seo Jin 1 and Tae Woong 608 were found fishing inside the 20 m isobath in Guinea. The Korean vessel Hae Jeong 3 was found fishing in the waters of Guinea-Bissau on 26, 29 and 30 October and again on 12 November. The Korean vessels Medra and Seo Jin 1 were found fishing in the waters of Guinea on 13 and 18 November, and Medra was also found on 1 November. The vessels seem to always operate in the same area, trawling in very shallow waters, sometimes around 10 m deep. We obtained visual documentation of the ships’ destructive trawling operation and the trail of mud that they leave behind. The Korean vessel Tae Woong 608 was observed by one of our RHIBs while fishing in the waters of Guinea on 18 November at 02:30h. Image 3.2.1. On 13 Nov 2014, Seo Jin 1 was found fishing in the 20m isobath zone in the EEZ of Guinea. The ship was operating in very shallow waters using destructive trawling and left behind clear trail of mud. Š Jiri Rezac/Greenpeace
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Esperanza West Africa Expedition 2014 Map 3.2.1. Korean-flagged vessels sighted during the documentation period.
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3.3. Transshipment between the Flipper 3 and the Saly Reefer The Flipper 3, flagged to Comoros, was sighted transshipping with the reefer Saly Reefer in the waters of Guinea-Bissau on 30 October. It was sighted again fishing in the waters of Guinea-Bissau on 12 November. According to the list of licensed vessels available to us at that time, its license had expired.
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Esperanza West Africa Expedition 2014 Image 3.3.1. Transshipment at sea between the Flipper 3 and the Saly Reefer on 30 Oct 2014 in the EEZ of GuineaBissau Š Jiri Rezac/Greenpeace
Map 3.3.1. Comoros-flagged vessels sighted during the documentation period.
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3.4. Senegalese-flagged vessels in Guinea-Bissau and Guinea The Senegalese-flagged vessel Borom was sighted fishing in the waters of Guinea-Bissau, but not on the official list of authorized vessels available to us at the time of sighting. Nine Senegalese-flagged vessels, Anta Starr, Betty, Ile de Carabane, Marcantonio Bragadin, Ria de Dakar, Santana, Saturnia, Segundo San Rafael and Sona, were sighted fishing in the waters of Guinea-Bissau. According to the list of licensed vessels available to us at the time, their licenses had expired at the time of sighting. However, it was reported that the owners and/or operators of these vessels intended to obtain licenses to fish in Guinea-Bissau. An updated list of licensed vessels would be required to confirm this information. Another Senegalese-flagged vessel Kambal III was sighted fishing in the waters of Guinea, but not on the official list of authorized vessels. Map 3.4.1. Senegalese-flagged vessels observed during documentation period.
30
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3.5. Automatic Identification System (AIS) Misreporting AIS has become a widely used source of data on vessel identity, positions, movements worldwide, visible to other vessels and land based systems. As AIS was designed for safety purposes, it is therefore a publicly available data stream and could become a useful tool for public supervision of fishing vessels. However, there are currently no multilateral mandatory requirements for the use of AIS by fishing vessels31, and the information reported by the ship’s AIS system can be easily manipulated without consequences1. Among all the 134 vessels sighted during the trip, only 21 vessels could be observed on the AIS system, the other 114 vessels could either have their AIS devices switched off or not have an AIS device installed at all. Of the 21 that had their AIS turned on, at least 10 of these vessels had their name, Maritime Mobile Service Identity (MMSI) number and/or position wrongly reported. All the misreported cases were Chinese-flagged vessels. By comparing the information received on the Esperanza and the helicopter AIS systems, as well as direct and simultaneous observations from the helicopter and the RHIB, we found the vessels below reported information that was not coherent with the other sources of information: These include: Vessel name
Company
Greenpeace observation
Bo Yuan 11
Dalian Bo Yuan Overseas Fishery Corp.
1) The location shown on AIS and that observed from our helicopter did not match. The AIS reported the longitude in East but it was actually the West, showing the vesselon the land in the AIS system. 2) The ship was reporting its name as Min Dong Yu 61745 on AIS. 3) It was reporting its MMSI number as 412447093 on AIS but the MMSI number 412209032 was painted on the ship's bridge.
Fu Yuan Yu 360, Fu Yuan Yu 361, Fu Yuan Yu 362, Fu Yuan Yu 363, Fu Yuan Yu 366
Fujian Pingtan Hengli Fishery co.,ltd.
The ship was reporting false positions around 100ºWest longitude (Mexico), showing the vessels in Mexican waters in the AIS system.
Fu Yuan Yu 381
Fujian Pingtan Hengli Fishery co.,ltd.
reporting MMSI number 412440272 on AIS while MMSI number 4124402381 was painted on the ship
Fu Yuan Yu 380
Fujian Pingtan Hengli Fishery co.,ltd.
reporting MMSI number 412440271 on AIS while MMSI number 4124402380 was painted on the ship
Bo Yuan 9
Dalian Bo Yuan Overseas Fishery Corp.
reporting a name “0” on AIS
Liao Pu Yu 15096
Dalian Bo Yuan Overseas Fishery Corp.
reporting name Onwa487 on AIS
1
Unless it is mandatory and if manipulation is considered as an infraction under the legislation of the flag State Page 22 of 28
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4. Conclusions and Recommendations The result of our documentation work at sea clearly shows that West African waters are still threatened by destructive and illegal fishing practices. Both West African countries, and the distant water fishing countries home to these fishing fleets should immediately put effective measures in place to prevent, deter and eliminate IUU fishing in West African waters, and ensure the environmentally sustainable and socially equitable exploitation of marine resources.
Recommendations to all flag States and States of beneficial ownership of fishing vessels mentioned in this report:
Urgently carry out a thorough investigation of the potential illegal fishing practices documented in this report. Impose strict, dissuasive, non-discriminatory and non-negotiable sanctions and penalties. Strengthen the MCS and sanction system to ensure that these companies and fleets abide by the rules. Immediately improve relevant legislation, closing all existing loopholes that companies have used to engage in IUU fishing.
Recommendations to all concerned coastal States:
Urgently investigate IUU fishing practices in their waters as well as potential malpractice in terms of oversight and governance allowing unscrupulous DWF operators to flout the rules with quasi impunity Ensure full transparency of fisheries related data. The list of all fishing vessels authorized to fish in their waters, or operating under their flag in international waters or the waters of third countries, as well as the conditions of their fishing licenses and authorizations, infringements, arrests, fines and other sanctions imposed and other follow-up, must be made public. Ensure strict enforcement of fisheries management rules. Improve monitoring, control, surveillance and enforcement mechanisms, including reliable and effective VMS and participatory surveillance programs. Adopt effective national and regional plans of action to combat IUU fishing as provided by the FAO International Plan of Action (IPOA) to Prevent, Deter and Eliminate IUU fishing.
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Annex 1. Summary of observations Potential cases of illegal fishing are highlighted in red. No.
Name
Flag
1
Bo Yuan 1
2 3
Call Sign
Type
Area
China
Trawler
Guinea
Bo Yuan 10 Bo Yuan 11
China China
Trawler Trawler
Guinea Guinea
4
Bo Yuan 2
China
Trawler
Guinea
5
Bo Yuan 3
China
Trawler
Guinea
6
Bo Yuan 5
China
Trawler
Guinea
7
Bo Yuan 6
China
Trawler
Guinea
8
Bo Yuan 7
China
Trawler
Guinea
9
Bo Yuan 8
China
Trawler
Guinea
10
Bo Yuan 9
China
Trawler
Guinea
11 12 13 14
CNFC 21 CNFC 22 CNFC 23 CNFC 24
China China China China
BTTE BITG BITH
Trawler Trawler Trawler Trawler
Guinea Guinea Guinea Guinea
15
CNFC 9305
China
BALR
Trawler
Guinea-Bissau
16
CNFC 9307
China
BALT
Trawler
Guinea-Bissau
17
CNFC 9308
China
BAKK
Trawler
Guinea-Bissau
18
CNFC 9310
China
BBGX
Trawler
Guinea
19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28 29 30 31 32 33 34 35 36 37 38
CNFC 9311 CNFC 9312 CNFC 9314 CNFC 9502 CNFC 9509 CNFC 9510 CNFC 9511 CNFC 9512 CNFC 9702 Fu Yuan Yu 360 Fu Yuan Yu 361 Fu Yuan Yu 362 Fu Yuan Yu 363 Fu Yuan Yu 366 Fu Yuan Yu 371 Fu Yuan Yu 372 Fu Yuan Yu 379 Fu Yuan Yu 380 Fu Yuan Yu 381 Hai Feng 823
China China China China China China China China China China China China China China China China China China China China
BBCY BBGZ BBHA BKUF BYKQ7 BYKQ8 BYKQ9 BYLQ2 BAHR
Trawler Trawler Trawler Trawler Trawler Trawler Trawler Trawler Trawler Trawler Trawler Trawler Trawler Trawler Trawler Trawler Trawler Trawler Trawler Reefer
Guinea Guinea Guinea Guinea-Bissau Guinea-Bissau Guinea-Bissau Guinea-Bissau Guinea-Bissau Guinea-Bissau Guinea Guinea Guinea Guinea Guinea Guinea Guinea Guinea Guinea Guinea Guinea-Bissau
Comments INSIDE the 20m ISOBATH
INSIDE the 20m ISOBATH INSIDE the 20m ISOBATH. INSIDE the 20m ISOBATH. INSIDE the 20m ISOBATH. INSIDE the 20m ISOBATH. INSIDE the 12 nm zone.
Transshipping with Hai Feng 895 Transshipping with Hai Feng 896 Transshipping with Hai Feng 895
Page 24 of 28
Esperanza West Africa Expedition 2014
39
Hai Feng 896
China
BZZQ5
Reefer
Guinea-Bissau
China
BCGG
Tanker
Guinea-Bissau
China China
BDNB2 BDNB3
Trawler Trawler
Guinea-Bissau Guinea-Bissau
41 42
Hai Gong You 302 He Bei 801 He Bei 802
43
Jiu Yuan 811
China
BKSY2
Trawler
Guinea
44 45 46 47
Jiu Yuan 812 Lian Run 17 Lian Run 18 Lian Run 19
China China China China
BKST2 V3LB-3
Trawler Trawler Trawler Trawler
Guinea Guinea Guinea Guinea
48
Lian Run 26
China
B2SQ3
Trawler
Guinea
49
Lian Run 28
China
B2SQ5
Trawler
Guinea
50
Lian Run 33
China
BECD2
Trawler
Guinea
51 52 53
Lian Run 34 Lian Run 35 Lian Run 36
China China China
BECD3 BECD4 BECD5
Trawler Trawler Trawler
Guinea Guinea Guinea
54
Lian Run 37
China
BECD6
Trawler
Guinea
55
Lian Run 38
China
BECD7
Trawler
Guinea
56 57
China China
Trawler Trawler
Guinea Guinea
China
Trawler
Guinea
China
Trawler
Guinea
60
Lian Run 39 Lian Run 40 Liao Pu Yu 15095 Liao Pu Yu 15096 Yuan Yu 10
China
BYXB8
Trawler
Guinea-Bissau
61
Yuan Yu 15
China
BYZB3
Trawler
Guinea-Bissau
62
Yuan Yu 17
China
BYYB9
Trawler
Guinea-Bissau
63 64 65 66 67 68 69 70
Yue Yuan Yu 1 Yue Yuan Yu 2 Yue Yuan Yu 7 Yue Yuan Yu 8 Zhi Jiang 03 Zhi Jiang 04 Zhi Jiang 05 Zhi Jiang 06 Zhong Shui 9201 Zhong Shui 9202 Zhong Shui 9412 Zhong Shui 9416 Zhong Shui 9417 Zhong Shui 9418 Zhou Yu 629
China China China China China China China China
BXAG2 BXAG3 BXAF6 BXAF7 BKJV538 BKJK BKZA BKZB
Trawler Trawler Trawler Trawler Trawler Trawler Trawler Trawler
Guinea-Bissau Guinea-Bissau Guinea Guinea Guinea Guinea Guinea Guinea
China
BXAH6
Trawler
Guinea-Bissau
China
BXAH7
Trawler
Guinea-Bissau
China
BXAH2
Trawler
Guinea-Bissau
China
BBRE
Trawler
Guinea-Bissau
China
BBRF
Trawler
Guinea-Bissau
China
BBRG
Trawler
Guinea-Bissau
China
BKDR
Supply
Guinea-Bissau
40
58 59
71 72 73 74 75 76 77
Transshipping with CNFC 9308
INSIDE the 12 nm zone. INSIDE the 20m ISOBATH.
INSIDE the 20m ISOBATH. INSIDE the 20m ISOBATH.
INSIDE the 20m ISOBATH.
Page 25 of 28
Esperanza West Africa Expedition 2014 78 79
Zhou Yu Leng 7 Zhou Yu Leng 8
China China
BKWE BKWD
Reefer Reefer
Guinea-Bissau Guinea-Bissau
80
Flipper 3
Comoros
D6FD4
Trawler
Guinea-Bissau
81
Flipper 4
Comoros
D6DX2
Trawler
Guinea-Bissau
82
Flipper 5
Comoros
D6EQ9
Trawler
Guinea-Bissau
83
Flipper 7
Comoros
D6GF2
Trawler
Guinea-Bissau
84
Saly Reefer
Comoros
D6EU2
Reefer
Guinea-Bissau
85 86 87 88 89 90
Silver Ice Koubia Moussaya Poilao Wassou Hae Jeong 3
Comoros Guinea Guinea Guinea Guinea Korea
D6DA5
J5MG7 3XWS HLBA
Reefer Trawler Patrol Boat Trawler Trawler Trawler
Guinea-Bissau Guinea Guinea Guinea-Bissau Guinea Guinea-Bissau
91
Medra
Korea
DTBE3
Trawler
Guinea
92
Seo Jin 1
Korea
6KCC
Trawler
Guinea
93
Tae Woong 608
Korea
6NGE
Trawler
Guinea
94 95
Fishemar 2 Fishemar 8
Morocco Morocco
CNA4034 CNCL
Trawler Trawler
Guinea-Bissau Guinea-Bissau
96
Hai Feng 895
Panama
3ECC7
Reefer
Guinea-Bissau
97 98 99 100 101 102 103 104 105 106 107
Senegal Senegal Senegal Senegal Senegal Senegal Senegal Senegal Senegal Senegal Senegal
6WHC 6VTT 6WIY 6VNH 6VUV 6VPZ 6VSZ 6VRC 6VSS 6WGC
Trawler Trawler Trawler Trawler Patrol Boat Trawler Trawler Trawler Trawler Trawler Trawler
Guinea-Bissau Guinea-Bissau Guinea-Bissau Senegal Guinea-Bissau Senegal Guinea-Bissau Guinea-Bissau Guinea-Bissau Guinea-Bissau Guinea
Senegal
6WEO
Trawler
Guinea-Bissau
License expired
Senegal Senegal Senegal
6WIB 6VUM 6WAJ
Trawler Trawler Trawler
Guinea-Bissau Guinea-Bissau Guinea-Bissau
License expired License expired License expired
Senegal
6WJA
Trawler
Guinea-Bissau
License expired
113 114 115
Anta Starr Betty Borom Connie Ferlo Helene Ile aux Fees Ile aux Oiseaux Ile de Carabane Ile de Santiago Kambal III Marcantonio Bragadin Ria de Dakar Santana Saturnia Segundo San Rafael Soleil 10 Soleil 11 Soleil 12
Senegal Senegal Senegal
6WDK 6WDL 6WDM
Trawler Trawler Trawler
Senegal Senegal Senegal
116
Soleil 51
Senegal
6WJG
Trawler
Senegal
117 118 119 120
Soleil 61 Soleil 65 Soleil 66 Soleil 67
Senegal Senegal Senegal Senegal
6WJH 6WJV 6WJW 6WJX
Trawler Trawler Trawler Trawler
Senegal Senegal Senegal Senegal
108 109 110 111 112
Transshipping with Saly Reefer. License expired.
Transshipping with Flipper 3.
License expired License expired INSIDE the 20m ISOBATH. INSIDE the 20m ISOBATH. INSIDE the 20m ISOBATH. License expired Transshipping with CNFC 9305 and CNFC 9510 License expired License expired No License.
License expired No License.
Page 26 of 28
Esperanza West Africa Expedition 2014
121
Soleil 68
Senegal
6WJY
Trawler
Senegal
122 123 124
Soleil 8 Soleil 9 Sona
6WDI 6WOJ 6WHY
Trawler Trawler Trawler
Senegal Senegal Guinea-Bissau
125
Zhou Yu 634
Supply
Guinea
126
Appia
Trawler
Guinea
127
Benty 1
Trawler
Guinea
128
Hai Hong
Trawler
Guinea
129
Hai Xing
Trawler
Guinea
130
Monique
Trawler
Guinea
131
Moriah
Trawler
Guinea
132
Morono
Trawler
Guinea
133
Vina
fishing vessel
Guinea
134
Xing Fu
Senegal Senegal Senegal unknown (possibly flagged by China) unknown (possibly flagged to Guinea) unknown (possibly flagged to Guinea) unknown (possibly flagged to Guinea) unknown (possibly flagged to Guinea) unknown (possibly flagged to Guinea) unknown (possibly flagged to Guinea) unknown (possibly flagged to Guinea) unknown (possibly flagged to Guinea) unknown (possibly flagged to Guinea)
Trawler
Guinea
CK3-
License expired
INSIDE the 20m ISOBATH.
Annex 2. Marine charts, maps and legal texts referenced in this report: 1. The 12 NM zone where industrial fishing is prohibited in Guinea-Bissau was drawn based on GuineaBissau’s Lei n.° 3/85 de 17 de Maio and Lei n° 2/85 de 17 de Maio. 2. The 12 NM zone where industrial fishing is prohibited in Guinea was drawn based on Guinean Presidential Decree 092/PRG/SGG and the 2014 Fisheries management plan (Arrêté № A/2014/019/MPA/CAB/SGG). 3. The 20m isobaths inside Guinea’s EEZ was drawn based on the chart De Cabo Roxo à Monrovia (No. 7185 INT 1085), published by SHOM (Service hydrographique et océanographique de la marine), France, 1992 and the 2014 Fisheries Management Plan of Guinea (Arrêté № A/2014/019/MPA/CAB/SGG). 4. The EEZs of Senegal, Gambia, Guinea-Bissau, Guinea and Sierra Leone were drawn based on charts/lists of coordinates available from Division for Ocean Affairs and the Law of the Sea, Office of Legal Affairs, United Nations. (http://www.un.org/Depts/los/LEGISLATIONANDTREATIES/africa.htm ) 5. Maps of the relevant countries are available from GADM database of Global Administrative Areas (http://www.gadm.org/version2).
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Esperanza West Africa Expedition 2014
References 1
All potential infractions for fishing without a valid license referred to in this report are based on official lists of authorized vessels available at the time of observations. 2 For more details, please refer to the full report Africa’s Fisheries’ Paradise At A Crossroads Investigating Chinese Companies’ Illegal Fishing Practices In West Africa Full Report available at https://www.greenpeace.org.cn/africafisheries-paradise-at-a-crossroads-report-full/ 3 Review of the state of world marine fishery resources, FAO, 2011, P14. The Western and Eastern Central Atlantic had the highest proportion of overfished stocks, about 54 percent in 2009 4 http://www.fao.org/fishery/topic/14886/en. For example, FAO estimated that the proportion of dietary protein that comes from fish is extremely high among these WA countries: 47 percent in Senegal, 62 percent in Gambia and 63 percent in Sierra Leone and Ghana 5 Review of the state of world marine fishery resources, FAO, 2011, P14. The Western and Eastern Central Atlantic had the highest proportion of overfished stocks, about 54 percent in 2009 6 Review of the state of world marine fishery resources, FAO, 2011, P67. 7 http://www.plosone.org/article/info:doi/10.1371/journal.pone.0004570; http://transparentsea.co/images/5/58/Illegalfishing-mrag-report.pdf 8 http://transparentsea.co/images/5/58/Illegal-fishing-mrag-report.pdf, pg 100 9 The 20m isobaths is derived from the chart De Cabo Roxo à Monrovia (No. 7185 - INT 1085), published by SHOM (© SHOM – 2014 – - reproduction prohibited) The proposed derived products developed on the basis of the marine charts of the SHOM do not replace the official products of a hydrographic service. These derived products have not been verified by the SHOM. 10 Ibid., 9 11 “Industrial fishing” or “industrial fishing vessel” defined in the respective legislation of: Senegal: Décret № 98-498 Chapter II, Section 1, Art. 11 http://www.spcsrp.org/medias/csrp/Leg/SN/Leg_SN_1998_DCR00498.pdf Guinea: Arrêté № 007/9/MARA/CAB Art 2 http://www.spcsrp.org/medias/csrp/Leg/GUI/nouveau/Leg_GUI_1994_ARR00007.pdf Guinea-Bissau: Decreto-Lei Art 4 (u) http://www.spcsrp.org/medias/csrp/Leg/GBIS/nouveau/LEG_GB_2011_DCR-LEI00010.pdf 12 Decreto Lei n.º 10/2011 of 7 June 2011 Art 24 13 Arrêté № A/2014/019 MPA/CAB/SGG Para I (scope) 14 Décret N° 98-498 Art 44 15 Decreto Lei n.º 10/2011 of 7 June 2011 Art 35 16 Arrêté N°A/2013/10611/MPA/CAB/SGG Para. XIV 17 Décret D/2013/128/PRG/SGG of 29 July 2013 Art 1 §1 18 Décret D/008/PRG/SGG of 6th January 2014 Art 2.1 19 Arrêté № A/2014/019 MPA/CAB/SGG Para XIV 20 Loi n°98-32 of 14 April 1998 Art 32 21 All potential infractions for fishing without a valid license referred to in this report are based on official lists of authorized vessels available at the time of observations. 22 Ibid.,9 23 In the legend: “No license” means the vessel was not on the official lists of licensed vessels available at the time of observation; “License expired” means the vessel was on the official lists of licensed vessels available at the time of observation but the license had expired; “No infraction” means no infraction detectable without boarding the fishing vessels. 24 Ibid.,9 25 Ibid.,9 26 Ibid.,9 27 Ibid.,9 28 Ibid.,9 29 Ibid.,9 30 Ibid.,9 31 The application of the AIS requirements in Regulation 19 of SOLAS Chapter V to fishing vessels is entirely at the behest of the flag State. There is currently no legally binding international agreement imposing the use of AIS for fishing vessels.
Page 28 of 28
Esperanza West Africa Expedition 2014
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