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.
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.
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 manifesto, we lay out a roadmap for the protection of the ocean, providing clear policy recommendations to save our seas and safeguard our future.
Our ocean is the blue beating heart of our planet, but we are putting this irreplaceable ecosystem under extreme pressure. In this manifesto, we lay out a roadmap for the protection of the ocean, providing clear policy recommendations to save our seas and safeguard our future.
EJF Climate Manifesto
This manifesto is designed to point the way and highlight what can and should be done to achieve a sustainable, survivable future, providing a framework for the system change we urgently need to tackle climate breakdown.
Burning Capital: How Taiwan’s public funds risk public assets and fuel the climate crisis: Reaching net zero by 2050 is a legally binding target for the Taiwanese government, but continuing investments in fossil fuels hamper the country’s efforts to slash emissions and mean the government is failing in its fiduciary duty as a fund manager for the people. It is crucial that Taiwan actively mitigates the climate crisis by transforming its public fund investments, together with all other sectors.
Reaching net zero by 2050 is a legally binding target for the Taiwanese government, but continuing investments in fossil fuels hamper the country’s efforts to slash emissions and mean the government is failing in its fiduciary duty as a fund manager for the people. It is crucial that Taiwan actively mitigates the climate crisis by transforming its public fund investments, together with all other sectors.
La gestion des risques liés aux activités de pêche maritime professionnelle au regard des enjeux socio-économiques en zone Natura 2000 : Une pratique administrative incompatible avec les obligations de la France au titre de la Directive Habitats: La mise en œuvre de la Directive Habitats par la France, en ce qui concerne la prise en compte des risques liés aux activités de pêche maritime professionnelle lors de l’élaboration des mesures de gestion, apparaît incompatible avec ses obligations au titre du droit européen. Cette note a pour objet de rappeler les obligations incombant à la France au titre de la Directive Habitats en matière de protection du milieu marin et de prise en compte des enjeux socio-économiques dans l’élaboration et la mise en œuvre des mesures de conservation, et d’attirer l’attention des services de l’État sur le défaut de conformité de la pratique administrative française en la matière.
La mise en œuvre de la Directive Habitats par la France, en ce qui concerne la prise en compte des risques liés aux activités de pêche maritime professionnelle lors de l’élaboration des mesures de gestion, apparaît incompatible avec ses obligations au titre du droit européen. Cette note a pour objet de rappeler les obligations incombant à la France au titre de la Directive Habitats en matière de protection du milieu marin et de prise en compte des enjeux socio-économiques dans l’élaboration et la mise en œuvre des mesures de conservation, et d’attirer l’attention des services de l’État sur le défaut de conformité de la pratique administrative française en la matière.
L'urgence d'une mise en oeuvre effective du droit dans les sites Natura 2000: Les associations Environmental Justice Foundation (EJF) et Défense des Milieux Aquatiques (DMA) recommandent au gouvernement français d’activer les différents leviers légaux existants pour remplir efficacement ses engagements en matière de biodiversité, climat et restauration des écosystèmes, tout en revalorisant les métiers de la petite pêche côtière à faible impact environnemental.
Les associations Environmental Justice Foundation (EJF) et Défense des Milieux Aquatiques (DMA) recommandent au gouvernement français d’activer les différents leviers légaux existants pour remplir efficacement ses engagements en matière de biodiversité, climat et restauration des écosystèmes, tout en revalorisant les métiers de la petite pêche côtière à faible impact environnemental.
Special Representative for Climate Change and Biodiversity letter to the UK Government: The UK Special Representative for Climate Change role will be critical to enhance the UK’s engagement at the highest levels of international climate negotiations and will undoubtedly give positive visibility to Labour’s ambition to accelerate climate action. However, we believe biodiversity protection must also be recognised within the role’s title and remit.
The UK Special Representative for Climate Change role will be critical to enhance the UK’s engagement at the highest levels of international climate negotiations and will undoubtedly give positive visibility to Labour’s ambition to accelerate climate action. However, we believe biodiversity protection must also be recognised within the role’s title and remit.
South American civil society organisations to Leaders of the European Parliament: Please help save the Pantanal from unprecedented fires: We, the undersigned civil society organizations from Brazil, Bolivia and Paraguay, write to ask for your help to save and restore the world’s largest tropical wetland, the Pantanal, which faces unprecedented fires.
Spanning 42 million acres, the Pantanal is home to a vast array of species, many of which are vulnerable or endangered. It is an important carbon sink and plays a critical role in climate regulation for South America. The Pantanal is also home to 1.2 million people, including eleven Indigenous territories. However, the vast majority of the Pantanal is unprotected and increasingly threatened by extensive fires.
Nature's Unsung Heroes: Why Wetlands Matter: Wetlands play a disproportionately large role in supporting biodiversity, maintaining human health and stabilising our global climate. Despite this, the rate of wetland loss far outpaces other biomes, making them one of our planet's most threatened ecosystems. We must reverse this now.
Wetlands play a disproportionately large role in supporting biodiversity, maintaining human health and stabilising our global climate. Despite this, the rate of wetland loss far outpaces other biomes, making them one of our planet's most threatened ecosystems. We must reverse this now.
Championing the change: Priorities for the next European Commission and European Parliament (2024-2029): EJF’s recommendations highlight strategic priorities underrepresented in political discussions, envisioning the EU’s next term, from 2024 to 2029, as a period of intensified efforts to combat illegal fishing and strengthen wetland protection worldwide.
EJF's recent investigations into exploitation and illegal fishing on Chinese vessels in the Southwest Indian Ocean and the destruction of the Pantanal wetland in Brazil have brought to light the alarming pace of global environmental destruction, often accompanied by egregious human rights violations.
These crucial issues underscore the urgent need for the EU’s global leadership. EJF’s recommendations highlight strategic priorities underrepresented in political discussions, envisioning the EU’s next term, from 2024 to 2029, as a period of intensified efforts to combat illegal fishing and strengthen wetland protection worldwide.
Un manifesto por nuestro océano: En este manifiesto, presentamos una hoja de ruta para proteger los océanos, proporcionando recomendaciones normativas claras para salvar nuestros mares y salvaguardar nuestro futuro.
Marea de injusticia : Explotación y pesca ilegal en embarcaciones chinas en el suroeste del océano Índico: El presente informe esboza un mapa de la presencia y las actividades de la flota de altura china en el Océano Índico Sudoccidental, una región conocida por su paisaje marino rico en biodiversidad, que constituye el sustento para las comunidades costeras de la zona. China mantiene desde hace tiempo vínculos económicos y políticos cada vez más estrechos con la región, y ha destacado la economía azul del Océano Índico Sudoccidental como una zona clave de inversión y asociación. A la luz de los riesgos asociados a la presencia de la flota de altura china –que hoy en día se conocen mejor– es necesario examinar dichas inversiones para garantizar que la economía azul del Océano Índico Sudoccidental sea legal, sostenible y equitativa.
El presente informe esboza un mapa de la presencia y las actividades de la flota de altura china en el Océano Índico Sudoccidental, una región conocida por su paisaje marino rico en biodiversidad, que constituye el sustento para las comunidades costeras de la zona. China mantiene desde hace tiempo vínculos económicos y políticos cada vez más estrechos con la región, y ha destacado la economía azul del Océano Índico Sudoccidental como una zona clave de inversión y asociación. A la luz de los riesgos asociados a la presencia de la flota de altura china –que hoy en día se conocen mejor– es necesario examinar dichas inversiones para garantizar que la economía azul del Océano Índico Sudoccidental sea legal, sostenible y equitativa.
Open letter: EU industry and NGOs call for sustained European Commission action to keep Thai fisheries safe, legal and sustainable: Despite increasing openness from Royal Thai Government agencies to engage in discussions on proposed fisheries legislation rollbacks, evidence of substantive action to remove the most worrying articles is still missing. NGOs and EU fisheries industry groups therefore encourage the European Commission to continue upholding legal, ethical and sustainable fisheries.
Despite increasing openness from Royal Thai Government agencies to engage in discussions on proposed fisheries legislation rollbacks, evidence of substantive action to remove the most worrying articles is still missing. NGOs and EU fisheries industry groups therefore encourage the European Commission to continue upholding legal, ethical and sustainable fisheries.
Evaluating fisheries transparency in six Southwest Indian Ocean nations: This report assesses fisheries transparency in Comoros, Madagascar, Mauritius, Mozambique, Seychelles and Tanzania. For each country, a summary of the findings is provided, along with recommendations for improvement.