Drowning Islands Stolen Fish

Drowning Islands Stolen Fish

Tonga, Monday, October 15, 2007 As dawn broke in Nukualofa, Tonga on the eve of the Forum Island leaders plenary, Greenpeace show-cased the dire impacts of collapsed tuna fisheries and drowning Pacific nations through a banner display in the ocean and outside the residence of the Australian High Commissioner.

The banner read DROWNING ISLANDS STOLEN FISH.
Greenpeace Australia Pacific Oceans Team Leader Nilesh Goundar said Greenpeace is bearing witness to the leaders discussions and called on them to make a stronger regional commitment to reduce tuna fishing by 50 per cent across the board, establish marine reserves in the high seas, and ban all at-sea transhipments and refuelling.

On climate, Chief Executive Officer of Greenpeace Australia Pacific, Steve Shallhorn, who is also at the meeting said to avert the worst climate change for Pacific Islands nations, wealthy industrialised nations such as Australia as a Forum Island Country member and the United States of America, a Post Forum Dialogue partner, must commit to reduce emissions by at least 30 per cent by 2020 and 80 per cent by 2050.

“This can be achieved if industrialised countries sincerely commit to an energy revolution by fast tracking renewable energy, and helping Pacific Island countries commit to do the same, as well as providing them with necessary incentives to protect their remaining forests,” he said.

Mr Goundar said, Greenpeace is peacefully communicating concerns about our regional tuna fisheries because there are too many boats and too few fish. Something has got to give and the signals are becoming very clear—the Pacific must no longer tolerate “pay, fish, and go” agreements but in fact also have developmental aspirations that require healthy tuna stocks.

“The Pacific is at its most vulnerable. We are at the frontline of climate change and collapsing tuna fisheries, which is the Pacific people’s principal resource. We need our leaders to rise up, lead the charge and defend their frontier and their people.

“Islandness and oceaness is what shapes Pacific peoples identities. Without their oceans and islands they are nothing, he said.

Mr Shallhorn said Pacific Island Countries should not allow Australia's dismal record on the issue of climate change to influence them, because of the catastrophic impacts on islands and its people.
John Howard's appalling attitude on climate change is not supported by the Australian people. With the election now called he will be under enormous pressure at home and in the Pacific to drastically reduce carbon emissions. The result of his disastrous policies are already happening with salt-water encroachment in the Pacific and droughts in Australia, said Mr Shallhorn.

Mr Shallhorn said the Australian public would be made fully aware of the position that Australia takes on the issue of climate change whilst at the Forum meeting.

ENDS

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