Environmental activists from the Sea Shepherd group said Friday they had "liberated" some 800 bluefin tuna that had been caught by what they described as poachers and were being towed by two fishing vessels off the coast of Libya.
Five scuba divers on Thursday afternoon cut open a circular holding net filled with fish below legal weight and caught after the fishing season closed, Sea Shepherd said in a press release.
The operation was carried out 42 miles (68 kilometres) off the coast of north Africa in waters claimed by Libya, according to the release.
The net was being towed by two boats, the Italian vessel Cesare Rustico and the Libyan vessel Tagreft, it said.
"Sea Shepherd is convinced that this catch was caught after 14 June and they hold the position that this operation by these two vessels was illegal," the statement said.
Activists on the Sea Shepherd vessel Steve Irwin rejected claims by the captain of the Libyan vessel that the fish had been caught three days earlier.
The divers took pictures of their action and posted them on the organisation's website.
Bluefin tuna have become a major source of controversy. Highly prized in Japan for consumption in sushi, their numbers have fallen dangerously low in the Mediterranean and east Atlantic, say green groups.
Spanish consumers rely on foreign fisheries resources Spain
Spain exhausted its own fish supply for the current year on 24 May, so this Saturday it has started to depend on resources from the rest of the world, according to a study.
Salmofood sold to Peruvian company Alicorp Chile
The managers of the companies Invertec Pesquera Mar de Chiloé and Pesquera Yadrán SA decided to sell their fish feed manufacturing firm Salmofood SA to the Peruvian company Alicorp.
Tuna industry anxious to increase exports Thailand
The country has been trying to up its exports in 2012 to make up for a drop last year, resulting from tighter international restrictions and conservation measures, according to Agriculture Minister.
IPNLF calls for 'careful support' of pole and line tuna fisheries Worldwide
The International Pole & Line Foundation insists improvements must be made to traditional pole-and-line fishing fisheries practices to ensure the fast-growing demand for this kind of tuna can be met sustainably.
Copyright 1995 - 2012 Fish Info & Services Co.Ltd| All Rights Reserved. DISCLAIMER
LIBYA
Print
