IUU fishing on trial

Exposing the system and loopholes that keep pirates

plundering the oceans

FAO Committee on Fisheries

Rome, 5th March 2009

IUU fishing levels remain too highIUU fishing levels remain too high

8 years after the FAO IPOA8 years after the FAO IPOA Estimations suggest that between 11-19% of the Estimations suggest that between 11-19% of the

global catch is derived from IUU activitiesglobal catch is derived from IUU activities Overcapacity and shrinking resources exacerbate Overcapacity and shrinking resources exacerbate

the problem – very little progress in capacity the problem – very little progress in capacity reductionreduction

FAO IPOA on IUU fishingFAO IPOA on IUU fishing

Key instrument but voluntaryKey instrument but voluntary Progress has been slowProgress has been slow Little use of regional plans of actionLittle use of regional plans of action

Regional Fisheries BodiesRegional Fisheries Bodies

Different degrees of performanceDifferent degrees of performance Not equally efficient when IUU fishing is Not equally efficient when IUU fishing is

carried out by CPscarried out by CPs Lack of communication between RFBsLack of communication between RFBs

Main loopholesMain loopholes

Transshipments and resupplying of vessels – lack Transshipments and resupplying of vessels – lack of controls over non-fishing vesselsof controls over non-fishing vessels

Re-flagging – lack of vessels traceabilityRe-flagging – lack of vessels traceability Weak port controls, granting of port services Weak port controls, granting of port services

other than offloadingother than offloading Irresponsible flag statesIrresponsible flag states

Main loopholesMain loopholes

Measures against vessels but not against Measures against vessels but not against nationals or companiesnationals or companies

Poor communication between governments and Poor communication between governments and organizationsorganizations

Lack of will to put time and resources on the issueLack of will to put time and resources on the issue

The case of Vidal Armadores S.A.The case of Vidal Armadores S.A.Over one decade in businessOver one decade in business

Operating a fleet in the Southern Ocean in the Operating a fleet in the Southern Ocean in the late 90'slate 90's

The Camouco (Panama) – Arvisa I (Uruguay) – The Camouco (Panama) – Arvisa I (Uruguay) – Eternal (Netherlands Antilles)Eternal (Netherlands Antilles)

The hot pursuit of the Viarsa I (Uruguay)The hot pursuit of the Viarsa I (Uruguay) Still operating a fleet today!Still operating a fleet today!

Antonio Vidal PegoAntonio Vidal PegoProblems with the justiceProblems with the justice Indicted in the US in Indicted in the US in

September 2005, for importing September 2005, for importing 26 t of PTF and falsifying 26 t of PTF and falsifying documentsdocuments

Pleaded guilty in November Pleaded guilty in November 2006 and was placed on 2006 and was placed on probation for 4 years.probation for 4 years.

The Paloma V The Paloma V Illegal activities documentedIllegal activities documented

Tried to offload 98 Tried to offload 98 t. of Patagonian t. of Patagonian toothfish in toothfish in Auckland, in May Auckland, in May 20082008

Owned by a Owned by a Namibian joint Namibian joint ventureventure

Inspection proved Inspection proved it had been it had been involved in IUU involved in IUU operations and operations and was controlled by was controlled by Vidal ArmadoresVidal Armadores

The Paloma V The Paloma V Illegal activities documentedIllegal activities documented

Transshiping Transshiping with the with the blacklisted blacklisted Chilbo San 33Chilbo San 33 on on 8 August 20078 August 2007

Transshipping Transshipping with the with the blacklisted blacklisted Black Black MoonMoon on 18 on 18 November 2007November 2007

The Paloma VThe Paloma V Links to Vidal Armadores S.ALinks to Vidal Armadores S.A

Invoices on-board established Invoices on-board established very clearly that the ship as very clearly that the ship as supplied by Vidal Armadores supplied by Vidal Armadores in Spainin Spain

The Paloma VThe Paloma V Links to Vidal Armadores S.ALinks to Vidal Armadores S.A

The owner was a The owner was a Namibian joint Namibian joint venture between a venture between a Namibian company Namibian company and Mabenal S.A, and Mabenal S.A, based in Uruguaybased in Uruguay

The Paloma VThe Paloma V Links to Vidal Armadores S.ALinks to Vidal Armadores S.A

Mabenal is 100% Mabenal is 100% by Vidal by Vidal Armadores S.A.Armadores S.A.

The Paloma VThe Paloma V Links to Vidal Armadores S.ALinks to Vidal Armadores S.A

Emails on board Emails on board confirmed that the confirmed that the company is operated by company is operated by Vidal and further Vidal and further indicate that he indicate that he operates a fleetoperates a fleet

The Paloma VThe Paloma V Legal and illegal Legal and illegal vessels cooperatevessels cooperate

Fleet online viewFleet online view The Spanish flagged The Spanish flagged

Galaecia and Belma are Galaecia and Belma are included together with included together with blacklisted vesselsblacklisted vessels

The Paloma V The Paloma V Spanish nationalsSpanish nationalsinvolvedinvolved

Crew listCrew list Lack of use of Lack of use of

legislation legislation against nationalsagainst nationals

The case of The case of Antonio García Antonio García PérezPérez

The Paloma V The Paloma V Spanish nationalsSpanish nationalsinvolvedinvolved

Lack of use of Lack of use of legislation against legislation against nationalsnationals

The case of Antonio The case of Antonio García PérezGarcía Pérez

The Paloma V The Paloma V Spanish nationals involvedSpanish nationals involved

There is There is enough enough evidenceevidence

The Black Moon The Black Moon Illegal activities documentedIllegal activities documented

Involved in a long list of IUU Involved in a long list of IUU operations between October operations between October 2005 and May 20062005 and May 2006

Confirmed gillnet fishing Confirmed gillnet fishing operationsoperations

The Black Moon The Black Moon Illegal activities documentedIllegal activities documented

Just between October 2005 Just between October 2005 and 24 April 2006 the and 24 April 2006 the vessel was involved in joint vessel was involved in joint operations with nine fishing operations with nine fishing vessels, eight of which were vessels, eight of which were blacklistedblacklisted

The Black Moon The Black Moon Illegal activities documentedIllegal activities documented

The Black MoonThe Black Moon Links to Vidal Armadores S.A.Links to Vidal Armadores S.A.

The Black Moon The Black Moon Continuously renaming and reflaggingContinuously renaming and reflagging

Dorita (Uruguay)Dorita (Uruguay)

Magnus (St Magnus (St Vincent&Gren)Vincent&Gren)

Thule (Eq. Guinea)Thule (Eq. Guinea)

Eolo (Eq. Guinea)Eolo (Eq. Guinea)

Red Moon (N Korea)Red Moon (N Korea)

Black Moon (N Korea)Black Moon (N Korea)

Ina Maka (N Korea)Ina Maka (N Korea)

Galaxy (N Korea)Galaxy (N Korea)

Vidal Armadores S.A.Vidal Armadores S.A. a highly subsidised companya highly subsidised company

Alleged transhipment with the Alleged transhipment with the Magnus (the Blackmoon) and the Magnus (the Blackmoon) and the Hammer in August 2004.Hammer in August 2004.

Reported by the observer on-Reported by the observer on-board.board.

Should a vessel belonging to this Should a vessel belonging to this operator been licensed and operator been licensed and subsidized to carry out 'scientific subsidized to carry out 'scientific research'?research'?

Vidal Armadores Vidal Armadores The case of the The case of the GalaeciaGalaecia

Complaints in CCAMLR Complaints in CCAMLR about the granting of a about the granting of a license to the Galaecia for license to the Galaecia for an exporatory fisheryan exporatory fishery

The Galaecia and the Belma The Galaecia and the Belma were licensed in the IOTC were licensed in the IOTC area in 2006 and 2007area in 2006 and 2007

Vidal Armadores Vidal Armadores The case of the The case of the GalaeciaGalaecia

The Galaecia caught fire The Galaecia caught fire on July 2008 and the crew on July 2008 and the crew was rescued by the was rescued by the Galaxy, which is actually Galaxy, which is actually the same vessel as the the same vessel as the Black Moon.Black Moon.

Even here the vessels on Even here the vessels on the screenshot show to the screenshot show to be operating togetherbe operating together

The end of the The end of the GalaeciaGalaeciaPirates to the rescuePirates to the rescue

The case of the BelmaThe case of the BelmaCharters for Vidal's vesselsCharters for Vidal's vessels

ICCAT convention area 2008ICCAT convention area 2008

A fleet still operative in the Southern OceanA fleet still operative in the Southern Ocean

Crew swapping Crew swapping vesselsvessels

The list of The list of vessels vessels operated by operated by Vidal may be Vidal may be longer: Duero, longer: Duero, Cetan, ...Cetan, ...

Good progress could be achieved in 2009Good progress could be achieved in 2009

A strong Port State AgreementA strong Port State Agreement First steps of a global record of fishing vesselsFirst steps of a global record of fishing vessels Progress in addressing nationals and Progress in addressing nationals and

companiescompanies Need for an investigation – GP took action this Need for an investigation – GP took action this

morningmorning Strengthen regional cooperationStrengthen regional cooperation Capacity reduction?Capacity reduction?