Films
Tide of injustice: exploitation and illegal fishing on Chinese vessels in the Southwest Indian Ocean
The Chinese fishing fleet is responsible for systemic illegal fishing and human rights abuses in countries bordering the Southwest Indian Ocean (SWIO), undercutting China’s claims of supporting sustainable development and thriving blue economies in the region, according to a report and film by the Environmental Justice Foundation (EJF). All of the fishers interviewed by EJF who had worked on China’s tuna fleet in the SWIO reportedly experienced or witnessed some form of human rights abuses and/or illegal fishing.
Tide of injustice: exploitation and illegal fishing on Chinese vessels in the Southwest Indian Ocean
The Chinese fishing fleet is responsible for systemic illegal fishing and human rights abuses in countries bordering the Southwest Indian Ocean (SWIO), undercutting China’s claims of supporting sustainable development and thriving blue economies in the region, according to a report and film by the Environmental Justice Foundation (EJF). All of the fishers interviewed by EJF who had worked on China’s tuna fleet in the SWIO reportedly experienced or witnessed some form of human rights abuses and/or illegal fishing.
Wimbi la udhalimu: Unyonyaji na uvuvi haramu wa meli za China Kusini Magharibi mwa bahari ya Hindi
Filamu hii inaangazia uwepo wa shughuli za uvuvi unaofanywa na vyombo vya majini vya China (DWF) katika eneo la Kusini-Magharibi ya Bahari ya Hindi yaani (SWIO), ukanda unaotambulika kwa utajiri mkubwa wa mazao ya bahari, ambao ni muhimu katika maisha ya jamii.
Flut der Ungerechtigkeit: Ausbeutung und illegale Fischerei auf chinesischen Schiffen im südwestlichen Indischen Ozean
The Chinese High Seas Fleet is fishing illegally in the Southwest Indian Ocean (SWIO), exploiting crews aboard its vessels and threatening traditional artisanal fisheries in countries in East Africa. The region is particularly rich in species and secures the livelihood and food supply of numerous coastal communities.
This EJF investigation is the first of its kind to document the activities of the Chinese High Seas Fleet in the East Africa region. Fish and seafood caught by the fleet potentially reach important international markets, including Europe.
All crew members interviewed in the investigation reported human rights violations, and more than half witnessed physical violence. Four people died, one of them presumably by suicide.
The research also shows that the scale of the Chinese fleet's criminal activities is in direct contradiction to China's interest in the sustainable development of the region: massive investments in the fishing sector not only threaten fragile marine ecosystems, but also harm traditional artisanal fisheries.
More on this investigation in the EJF report .
Burning paradise: how the EU is fuelling the Pantanal's demise
EU supply chains are directly driving the destruction of the Pantanal, one of the world's largest wetlands. Expanding anti-deforestation legislation could protect it.
Comment le chalutage de fond précipite l'effondrement de la pêche artisanale au Sénégal
Les pratiques de pêche destructrices de l'environnement et non durables pratiquées par la flotte chalutière aggravent la crise du secteur de la pêche artisanale au Sénégal.
At the tipping point: how bottom trawling is precipitating the collapse of Senegal’s artisanal fisheries
Artisanal fishing communities are the beating heart of Senegal’s fisheries sector. Yet they are under threat from severe declines in fish populations, driven in part by overfishing by the bottom trawl industry.
The risk of sleepwalking into deep-sea disaster is at hand, say government officials
13th July, 2023The risk of sleepwalking into deep-sea disaster is at hand, say government officials
More and more states are coming forward and calling for a stop to the rush towards deep-sea mining, including France and Germany. Sebastian Unger, Germany’s Federal Government Commissioner for the Ocean, and Olivier Poivre d’Arvor, the French Ambassador for the Poles and Maritime Issues, tell us why deep-sea mining poses a grave threat to this pristine marine ecosystem.
A manifesto for our ocean
Our ocean is the blue beating heart of our planet, but we are putting this irreplaceable ecosystem under extreme pressure. In this film, we lay out a roadmap for the protection of the ocean, providing clear policy recommendations to save our seas and safeguard our future.
Illegal bottom trawling in the Mediterranean: A threat to marine life and livelihoods in Tunisia
Kiss trawling - a form of illegal bottom trawling - is devastating the marine ecosystems in the Gulf of Gabès in Tunisia and the livelihoods of local fishers who depend on them. This film explains why it must be ended, swiftly and fairly.
Reports
Tide of injustice: exploitation and illegal fishing on Chinese vessels in the Southwest Indian Ocean
This report maps the presence and activities of the Chinese DWF in the Southwest Indian Ocean (SWIO), a region notable for its biodiversity-rich seascape, which is a lifeline to coastal communities across its shores. The findings of the report show that while couched in terms of win-win, sustainable development and collective benefits from the blue economy, the realities on board many vessels in China’s DWF are in direct contradiction of these stated aims.
This report maps the presence and activities of the Chinese DWF in the Southwest Indian Ocean (SWIO), a region notable for its biodiversity-rich seascape, which is a lifeline to coastal communities across its shores. The findings of the report show that while couched in terms of win-win, sustainable development and collective benefits from the blue economy, the realities on board many vessels in China’s DWF are in direct contradiction of these stated aims.
Wimbi la udhalimu: Unyonyaji na uvuvi haramu wa meli za China Kusini Magharibi mwa bahari ya Hindi: Ripoti hii inaangazia uwepo wa shughuli za uvuvi unaofanywa na vyombo vya majini vya China (DWF) katika eneo la Kusini-Magharibi ya Bahari ya Hindi yaani (SWIO), ukanda unaotambulika kwa utajiri mkubwa wa mazao ya bahari, ambao ni muhimu katika maisha ya jamii.
Flut der Ungerechtigkeit: Ausbeutung und illegale Fischerei auf chinesischen Schiffen im südwestlichen Indischen Ozean: Dieser Bericht dokumentiert die Aktivitäten der chinesischen Hochseeflotte im südwestlichen Indischen Ozean (SWIO). Die Region ist besonders artenreich und sichert den Lebensunterhalt und die Nahrungsmittelversorgung zahlreicher Küstengemeinden. Die Ergebnisse des Berichts zeigen, dass das Ausmaß der kriminellen Aktivitäten der chinesischen Flotte in direktem Widerspruch zu Chinas Interesse an einer nachhaltigen Entwicklung der Region steht: Massive Investitionen in den Fischereisektor bedrohen nicht nur fragile marine Ökosysteme, sondern schaden auch der traditionellen handwerklichen Fischerei.
The Chinese High Seas Fleet is fishing illegally in the Southwest Indian Ocean (SWIO), exploiting crews aboard its vessels and threatening traditional artisanal fisheries in countries in East Africa. The region is particularly rich in species and secures the livelihood and food supply of numerous coastal communities.
This EJF investigation is the first of its kind to document the activities of the Chinese High Seas Fleet in the East Africa region. Fish and seafood caught by the fleet potentially reach important international markets, including Europe.
All crew members interviewed in the investigation reported human rights violations, and more than half witnessed physical violence. Four people died, one of them presumably by suicide.
The findings of this EJF report also show that the scale of the Chinese fleet's criminal activities is in direct contradiction to China's interest in the region's sustainable development: massive investments in the fishing sector not only threaten fragile marine ecosystems, but also harm traditional artisanal ones Fishing.
แถลงการณ์ตอบสมาคมการประมงแห่งประเทศไทย: สมาคมการประมงไทยแห่งประเทศไทยซึ่งเป็นกลุ่มผลประโยชน์ของผู้ประกอบการณ์เรือประมงพาณิชย์ไทยได้เผยแพร่ข้อเรียกร้องหลายประการเพื่อสนับสนุนการแก้ไขกฎหมายการประมงในประเทศไทย เอกสารนี้คือการตอบกลับโดยสรุปของเรา
EJF Statement in response to the National Fisheries Association of Thailand (NFAT): The National Association of Thai Fisheries, a lobby group for the Thai fishing industry, recently published several claims about the possible roll-back of fisheries legislation in Thailand. This document summarises our responses.
Joint Statement: Call on EU governments to support the EU’s Regulation to prohibit forced labour products: 37 civil society organisations and trade unions from across Europe and beyond today call upon EU Member States to back the inter-institutional agreement reached earlier in March on the Regulation to prohibit products made from forced labour from entering the EU’s Single Market, ensuring new rules enter into force without delay.
37 civil society organisations and trade unions from across Europe and beyond today call upon EU Member States to back the inter-institutional agreement reached earlier in March on the Regulation to prohibit products made from forced labour from entering the EU’s Single Market, ensuring new rules enter into force without delay.
Leveling the playing field: Assessing the impact of Village Savings and Loans Associations (VSLAs) in Liberia’s coastal communities: Women play an integral role in Liberia’s small-scale fisheries (SSF). However, the contribution women make to the sector is threatened by challenges that undermine their livelihood opportunities and limit their active participation in fisheries decision-making processes. The Village Savings and Loans Association (VSLA) scheme seeks to address these challenges and increase women’s participation in the governance and management of Liberia’s SSF sector. This report presents the findings of an evaluation of the impact of these VSLAs in their respective communities over a period of one year
Women play an integral role in Liberia’s small-scale fisheries (SSF). However, the contribution women make to the sector is threatened by challenges that undermine their livelihood opportunities and limit their active participation in fisheries decision-making processes. The Village Savings and Loans Association (VSLA) scheme seeks to address these challenges and increase women’s participation in the governance and management of Liberia’s SSF sector.
This report presents the findings of an evaluation of the impact of these VSLAs in their respective communities over a period of one year