Greenpeace activists boarded the Taiwanese-flagged tuna longliner, Shuen De Ching No.888, in the high seas close to Papua New Guinea yesterday, and found it had no fishing license. The Rainbow Warrior is still tracking the ship, which remains in the same area.

“Pacific Island leaders have already prioritised and agreed to discuss sustainable fisheries management this week in Port Moresby, which we welcome. But more needs to be done urgently to bring illegal catches under control,“ said Lagi Toribau, Greenpeace Australia Pacific Global Tuna campaigner.

"This case will be a test for our leaders as it is an illegal Taiwanese vessel caught red-handed in the high seas pocket that borders three of the Pacific’s productive fishing grounds between Federated States of Micronesia, Papua New Guinea, and Nauru.

“It shows the extent to which illegal fishing is out of control in the high seas, and that more needs to be done to help Pacific nations with enforcement,” Toribau said.

Toribau and other Greenpeace activists uncovered sacks containing 75 kilograms of shark fins on board the vessel which would have come from at least 42 shark carcasses. However, only three shark carcasses were reported in the ship’s log book. Under Taiwanese law and Pacific fishing rules, shark fins may not exceed 5 per cent of the weight of the shark catch, putting the vessel in clear violation of the laws.

Greenpeace reported the case to the Western and Central Pacific Fisheries Commission (WCPFC) and neighbouring Pacific Island countries.

Greenpeace also informed Taiwan’s Fishery Agency that the ship was fishing illegally, but received no response. Greenpeace activists have since learned through the WCPFC that the Taiwan Fishery Agency retrospectively rushed through the fishing authorisation paperwork for the Shuen De Ching No.888 when Greenpeace flagged its illegal activity.

Toribau said Greenpeace is documenting the case, and is demanding that Taiwanese authorities take action against the Shuen De Ching No.888.

“The Taiwanese Government must order this illegal vessel to stop fishing and return to port immediately for a full and transparent investigation. There is a Taiwanese patrol boat in the region and this is exactly the sort of illegal activity they should be tackling,” he said.

Toribau said illegal fishing operations such as this are leading to sharp declines in tuna levels.

“What we’re witnessing right now is just the tip of the iceberg. The true extent of the Pacific tuna plunder remains hidden by vessels like this one, operating hundreds of miles from shore.

“The longline industry is chronically unregulated and poorly monitored. Overfishing is the norm, and illegal fishing adds further pressure to tuna stocks that are already in trouble,” he said.

Overfishing has pushed many species into dangerous decline, impacting on Pacific Island countries that have relied on tuna for generations. In Fiji, local fishing vessels are mothballed and workers have been laid off.

Local fisheries in Samoa, Tonga and other Pacific Island nations are also suffering. Although more than 70 per cent of the world’s tuna comes from the Pacific, only 20 per cent of that is actually caught by Pacific Island fleets.

Longliners are the most prevalent type of fishing vessel operating in this part of the Pacific Ocean, and there are more than 3,500 of the vessels currently authorised to fish in the region.

“Longline fishing is well and truly out of control,” Toribau said. “Lines covered with thousands of baited hooks and up to 170 kilometres (105 miles) long are deployed by vessels. Tuna species are the target, but other ocean creatures like sharks and turtles get caught on the lines. Every year around 300,000 sea turtles and at least 160,000 sea birds die on longlines."

The problem with longline fishing is further exacerbated because these vessels are able to transship, a process where a fishing vessel transfers its catch to a massive reefer, or mothership, at sea.

Toribau said tuna fisheries are urgently in need of effective management and control, which must include an immediate ban on transshipping at sea, and the closure of the high seas pockets, known as the Pacific Commons, to all fishing.

“If fishing boats have nothing to hide they should have no problem landing or transferring their catches in port, where the fish can be accounted for properly,” he said. “Illegal behavior has been hidden out at sea for too long. It’s time for fisheries to clean up, step up and be responsible. If they don’t, there will be no tuna left.”

ENDS

"Australia and New Zealand have shown themselves to be the worst of neighbours with their self-serving approach to climate change. They will be remembered for their callousness in the face of the grave threats facing Pacific islands, as people are forced to leave their land and lose their livelihoods through climate change," said Mr Ritter.

"Australia and New Zealand have inadequate national targets are, they are frustrating global talks, they are beholden to big polluters - and now they are blocking a united Pacific voice."

The Pacific Islands Forum leaders meeting in Port Moresby is expected to issue a declaration on climate change today calling for global warming to be limited to 2 degrees ahead of the Paris climate talks. The 2C target is championed by Australia and New Zealand, who have ignored pleas from Pacific Island nations for a limit of 1.5 degrees, seen as a minimum to help mitigate the impact of climate change on the islands.

"Eight of 20 of the nations that stand to lose the most economically from natural disasters are in the Pacific region. Low-lying nations like Kiribati, Tuvalu and the Marshall Islands face being rendered completely uninhabitable by rising sea levels.

“Pacific countries are determined to fight for justice, for a fair go from the world community and for the future survival and prosperity of their people. But Pacific island countries are being betrayed by their neighbours, Australia and New Zealand,” Mr Ritter said.

Mr Ritter reacted strongly to news that Prime Minister Tony Abbott and his New Zealand counterpart, John Key, celebrated their success in cementing the 2 degree limit in the Pacific leaders’ declaration.

"The idea that Tony Abbott and John Key would sit down for a beer to celebrate their efforts at bullying some of the smallest, most vulnerable nations in the world is frankly revolting,” he said.

Earlier this week, Mr Ritter was in Port Moresby as part of a Pacific civil society forum which supported demands for strong, urgent action on climate change.

ENDS

“Mr. Turnbull has repeatedly endorsed climate change science and has a deep understanding of the threats posed by climate change and global warming. We urge him to act on his own convictions and review Australia’s embarrassing and deficient climate change and environmental policies,” said Mr Ritter.

“Key amongst this would be a new commitment to transitioning Australia’s economy to renewable energy, which would also lead to job creation, while phasing out reliance on dirty fossil fuels.

“Australia once led internationally on tackling climate change, but Tony Abbott profoundly weakened this position by tainting economic policy with fossil fuel industry interests, and repeated attempts to destroy our renewable energy sector.

“Polling consistently showed that Mr. Abbott was out of touch with the concerns of ordinary Australians, who think the government should do more to address climate change. 

“Now that Mr. Turnbull has won the endorsement of the Liberal Party, he has an opportunity to do the right thing, and we look forward to a more inclusive approach towards civil society where environmental and social policies are concerned,” he said.

ENDS

The Government of the Nauru issued the ban on transshipping in its waters outside its port, and is calling on other Pacific Island Nations to do the same. A regular industry practice that is largely unmonitored, transshipping involves fishing vessels - longliners - transferring their catch to ‘motherships’ to be taken and sold in far-away markets. This means that boats can stay out at sea for years, evading checks on their fishing practices and licenses, and the treatment of their crew.

“Today’s announcement by Nauru is a shining example of the action that needs to be taken urgently to protect our Pacific Islands,” said Greenpeace Australia Pacific oceans campaigner Lagi Toribau from aboard the Rainbow Warrior.

“The longline industry is chronically unregulated and poorly monitored, and the high seas are currently acting as loopholes for pirate fishing boats.

“Out here, overfishing is the norm. Many tuna stocks are already in trouble, and illegal fishing is only adding to that pressure,” he said.

Nauru is the third Pacific country to ban the practice of transshipping, and their announcement is in response to last week’s bust by the Greenpeace ship Rainbow Warrior of a Taiwanese longline boat fishing illegally in the high seas that border Nauru’s national waters.

Greenpeace is calling for a complete overhaul of longline fisheries, including a ban on transshipping catch, to bring them under better control and proper management. There are more than 3,500 longline vessels currently authorised to fish by the Western and Central Pacific Fisheries Commission.

“If fishing vessels had to go to land to transfer their catch, it would solve many of the problems out here in the Pacific. It would make it easier to properly account for and manage these catches, and also boost the economies of Pacific Island countries where the catches come from.

“If the fishing industry is above board, they should have no problem with this solution. We need to put a stop to hiding dirty fishing practices out at sea.

“Although more than 70 percent of the world’s tuna comes from the Pacific, only 20 percent of that is actually caught by Pacific Island fleets. Industrial fishing has a huge impact on the Pacific Island countries that have relied on tuna for generations,” said Toribau.

In Fiji, local fishing vessels are mothballed and workers have been laid off. Local fisheries in Samoa, Tonga and other Pacific Island nations are also suffering.

Nauru’s ban on transshipping in its national waters is the latest in a series of important steps forward for the future of Pacific tuna stocks, which are declining at a rapid rate.

Greenpeace is calling on the Pacific Tuna Commission to adopt rules for the high seas that are compatible with those put in place by Pacific Island countries. This means the more countries that declare transshipping bans in their waters, the stronger the impetus for the high seas to also be closed to the practice.

ENDS

The International Transport Workers Federation (ITF) released a report today in Geneva outlining a corporate structure of over 600 shell companies that Chevron uses to shift billions of US dollars to secretive tax havens.

“Chevron is notorious for its tax dodging, but the Coalition government has failed to deal with this until now, partly because it is in bed with the fossil fuel industry, which makes a hobby of tax minimisation and bullying,” said Dominique Rowe, Head of Campaigns for Greenpeace Australia Pacific.

“We clearly need more transparency in how energy deals are forged, including what sorts of funding structures are approved,” she said.

Ms Rowe said legislation tabled this week to curb tax avoidance by multinationals would help to stop some tax rorts, but not address the pervasive influence of the fossil fuel lobby on government policies.

“Greenpeace is calling for an inquiry into the close ties between the government and the fossil fuel industry for the very reason that companies like Chevron are allowed to send offshore billions that could otherwise benefit taxpayers.

“The Australian Tax Office is already suing Chevron for reducing tax payments from 2004 to 2008 by hundreds of millions of dollars. Yet Chevron is proceeding with Gorgon off Western Australia, which will be the largest liquid natural gas project in the world.

“While this is going on, if the government has its way, Australians could be forced to pay taxes on their small donations to environmental groups, which are committed to preventing over-exploitation of our resources.

“The new Turnbull government can show that it is indeed listening to Australians by resisting efforts from the fossil fuel lobby to taint policies, and acknowledging that civil society plays in ensuring transparency in our political and financial systems,” Ms Rowe said.

ENDS

UK-based international bank Standard Chartered has become the second financial institution in just a few days to walk away from the proposed Carmichael mega coal mine in Queensland, with the Commonwealth Bank having ended its involvement in the project last week. The move by the banks comes hot on the heels of the Federal Court’s decision to revoke the mine’s federal approval due to Minister Hunt’s failure to properly consider its environmental impact.

Greenpeace Australia Pacific has welcomed the decision by Standard Chartered to end their role as the leading financial adviser to the Carmichael coal mine after the company's spokesperson told Greenpeace UK that they will no longer provide financial advice to the project.

"This is a victory for anyone who cares about the future of both the Great Barrier Reef and the world’s efforts to tackle climate change,” said Greenpeace Australia Pacific climate and energy campaigner Nikola Casule.

“This controversial project is now a massive reputational risk for even the world’s most powerful banks.”

“The federal court has already revoked the mine’s approval to operate. With both banks involved in the project now having pulled out it is beyond time for federal Environment Minister, Greg Hunt to end the uncertainty and rule out the government’s support for what is one of the most environmentally destructive fossil fuel developments in the world,” added Casule.

“Despite Prime Minister Abbott’s unprecedented attacks on the environmental movement and the judiciary last week over the Carmichael mine, Standard Chartered’s decision is further proof that the world's leading political and business decision makers know that the the world must move away from dirty coal.”

Carmichael would be Australia’s largest coal mine and one of the largest in the world. On the doorstep of the Great Barrier Reef, it would require massive seafloor dredging and port expansion, resulting in hundreds more coal ships sailing through Reef waters. At 28,000 hectares, it would also produce 121 million tonnes of carbon dioxide emissions yearly at maximum production driving climate change - the greatest threat to the Reef.

“We are still tracking the Shuen De Ching No.888 and we have supplied all our information to the nations where the ship might pull into their ports, including Papua New Guinea, Nauru and Fiji.

“We think it is vital for Pacific nations to investigate this ship to show that illegal fishing will not be tolerated, particularly as the region tries to develop a sustainable fisheries industry,” said Lagi Toribau, Greenpeace Australia Pacific Global Tuna campaigner from aboard Greenpeace's Rainbow Warrior ship.

The call follows a Greenpeace East Asia protest in front of the TFA headquarters in Taipei today over the agency’s move to effectively reward an illegal fishing operation. Greenpeace East Asia had reported details of the pirate operation to the TFA as soon as Greenpeace activists on the Rainbow Warrior boarded the Shuen De Ching on Wednesday and confirmed it did not have a fishing license.

Frances Lo, Greenpeace East Asia’s Taipei office campaigner, said that instead of responding, the TFA appeared to have used the information supplied by Greenpeace to retrospectively legalise the vessel and backdate the license to April.

“Greenpeace has comprehensive documentation of the case of Shuen De Ching No.888 and authorities must take action,” said Ms. Lo.

“The Taiwan Fisheries Agency ignored Greenpeace’s constructive effort and support. Instead, they chose to protect the vessel and cover up its illegal fishing. This will seriously affect Taiwan’s international reputation, and it could lead to international sanctions.

“We demand that the government orders this illegal vessel to stop fishing and return to port immediately for a full and transparent investigation.

“Although the TFA has said it will follow up on the vessel’s illegal shark finning, the reality is it may use the investigation to further delay and cover up the problem,” she said.

ENDS

“Mr. Turnbull has repeatedly endorsed climate change science and has a deep understanding of the threats posed by climate change and global warming. We urge him to act on his own convictions and review Australia’s embarrassing and deficient climate change and environmental policies,” said Mr Ritter.

“Key amongst this would be a new commitment to transitioning Australia’s economy to renewable energy, which would also lead to job creation, while phasing out reliance on dirty fossil fuels.

“Australia once led internationally on tackling climate change, but Tony Abbott profoundly weakened this position by tainting economic policy with fossil fuel industry interests, and repeated attempts to destroy our renewable energy sector.

“Polling consistently showed that Mr. Abbott was out of touch with the concerns of ordinary Australians, who think the government should do more to address climate change. 

“Now that Mr. Turnbull has won the endorsement of the Liberal Party, he has an opportunity to do the right thing, and we look forward to a more inclusive approach towards civil society where environmental and social policies are concerned,” he said.

ENDS

The Government of the Nauru issued the ban on transshipping in its waters outside its port, and is calling on other Pacific Island Nations to do the same. A regular industry practice that is largely unmonitored, transshipping involves fishing vessels - longliners - transferring their catch to ‘motherships’ to be taken and sold in far-away markets. This means that boats can stay out at sea for years, evading checks on their fishing practices and licenses, and the treatment of their crew.

“Today’s announcement by Nauru is a shining example of the action that needs to be taken urgently to protect our Pacific Islands,” said Greenpeace Australia Pacific oceans campaigner Lagi Toribau from aboard the Rainbow Warrior.

“The longline industry is chronically unregulated and poorly monitored, and the high seas are currently acting as loopholes for pirate fishing boats.

“Out here, overfishing is the norm. Many tuna stocks are already in trouble, and illegal fishing is only adding to that pressure,” he said.

Nauru is the third Pacific country to ban the practice of transshipping, and their announcement is in response to last week’s bust by the Greenpeace ship Rainbow Warrior of a Taiwanese longline boat fishing illegally in the high seas that border Nauru’s national waters.

Greenpeace is calling for a complete overhaul of longline fisheries, including a ban on transshipping catch, to bring them under better control and proper management. There are more than 3,500 longline vessels currently authorised to fish by the Western and Central Pacific Fisheries Commission.

“If fishing vessels had to go to land to transfer their catch, it would solve many of the problems out here in the Pacific. It would make it easier to properly account for and manage these catches, and also boost the economies of Pacific Island countries where the catches come from.

“If the fishing industry is above board, they should have no problem with this solution. We need to put a stop to hiding dirty fishing practices out at sea.

“Although more than 70 percent of the world’s tuna comes from the Pacific, only 20 percent of that is actually caught by Pacific Island fleets. Industrial fishing has a huge impact on the Pacific Island countries that have relied on tuna for generations,” said Toribau.

In Fiji, local fishing vessels are mothballed and workers have been laid off. Local fisheries in Samoa, Tonga and other Pacific Island nations are also suffering.

Nauru’s ban on transshipping in its national waters is the latest in a series of important steps forward for the future of Pacific tuna stocks, which are declining at a rapid rate.

Greenpeace is calling on the Pacific Tuna Commission to adopt rules for the high seas that are compatible with those put in place by Pacific Island countries. This means the more countries that declare transshipping bans in their waters, the stronger the impetus for the high seas to also be closed to the practice.

ENDS

Activists held up banners in front of the waiting vessels saying “This is a bush fire”, “This is a flood”, and “This is a heat wave” to highlight the devastating impact of coal-fired climate change. One crew member from Vanuatu, whose island was devastated by Cyclone Pam tagged one of the dozens of waiting vessels “This is a cyclone”.

Head of Programs for Greenpeace, Emma Gibson said the fossil fuel mining industry has too much power over government when the Minister for Agriculture is powerless to stop a mine that he publicly opposes.

“Clearly the coal mining industry has more power over the Abbott Government than the Minister for Agriculture.

 “Once again, the interests of coal mining companies have trumped the interests of Australian communities. 

“Frankly, it is embarrassing that the Minister for Agriculture cannot defend the best soil for farming in the country and the Minister for the Environment can approve a mine that is clearly not in the community’s interests.

“This mine will blow a 35km square hole in the best land for growing food in Australia and will use millions of litres of precious water. 

“What’s more, it will add more pollution, increase global warming and put more pressure on Australia’s ability to grow its own food.

 “This government should be standing with farmers and environment groups to protect our futures, but instead it is protecting the interests of the fossil fuel mining industry.

“Meanwhile, the Government is seeking to blame environment groups in their current House of Representative inquiry by attacking our right to stand up to these crimes against the environment and the community.

 “The inquiry is on behalf of the fossil fuel mining industry. The attack on the environment is for the fossil fuel mining industry. And the abandoning of the interests of farmers and their communities is for the fossil fuel mining industry.

“We are demanding an inquiry into the donations paid by fossil fuel mining companies to the LNP in order to understand the type of influence that prioritises their interests over the interests of the Minister for Agriculture”, said Ms Gibson.  

For more information, contact: Siobhan Lyttle 0432 828 004

Greenpeace activists boarded the Taiwanese-flagged tuna longliner, Shuen De Ching No.888, in the high seas close to Papua New Guinea yesterday, and found it had no fishing license. The Rainbow Warrior is still tracking the ship, which remains in the same area.

“Pacific Island leaders have already prioritised and agreed to discuss sustainable fisheries management this week in Port Moresby, which we welcome. But more needs to be done urgently to bring illegal catches under control,“ said Lagi Toribau, Greenpeace Australia Pacific Global Tuna campaigner.

"This case will be a test for our leaders as it is an illegal Taiwanese vessel caught red-handed in the high seas pocket that borders three of the Pacific’s productive fishing grounds between Federated States of Micronesia, Papua New Guinea, and Nauru.

“It shows the extent to which illegal fishing is out of control in the high seas, and that more needs to be done to help Pacific nations with enforcement,” Toribau said.

Toribau and other Greenpeace activists uncovered sacks containing 75 kilograms of shark fins on board the vessel which would have come from at least 42 shark carcasses. However, only three shark carcasses were reported in the ship’s log book. Under Taiwanese law and Pacific fishing rules, shark fins may not exceed 5 per cent of the weight of the shark catch, putting the vessel in clear violation of the laws.

Greenpeace reported the case to the Western and Central Pacific Fisheries Commission (WCPFC) and neighbouring Pacific Island countries.

Greenpeace also informed Taiwan’s Fishery Agency that the ship was fishing illegally, but received no response. Greenpeace activists have since learned through the WCPFC that the Taiwan Fishery Agency retrospectively rushed through the fishing authorisation paperwork for the Shuen De Ching No.888 when Greenpeace flagged its illegal activity.

Toribau said Greenpeace is documenting the case, and is demanding that Taiwanese authorities take action against the Shuen De Ching No.888.

“The Taiwanese Government must order this illegal vessel to stop fishing and return to port immediately for a full and transparent investigation. There is a Taiwanese patrol boat in the region and this is exactly the sort of illegal activity they should be tackling,” he said.

Toribau said illegal fishing operations such as this are leading to sharp declines in tuna levels.

“What we’re witnessing right now is just the tip of the iceberg. The true extent of the Pacific tuna plunder remains hidden by vessels like this one, operating hundreds of miles from shore.

“The longline industry is chronically unregulated and poorly monitored. Overfishing is the norm, and illegal fishing adds further pressure to tuna stocks that are already in trouble,” he said.

Overfishing has pushed many species into dangerous decline, impacting on Pacific Island countries that have relied on tuna for generations. In Fiji, local fishing vessels are mothballed and workers have been laid off.

Local fisheries in Samoa, Tonga and other Pacific Island nations are also suffering. Although more than 70 per cent of the world’s tuna comes from the Pacific, only 20 per cent of that is actually caught by Pacific Island fleets.

Longliners are the most prevalent type of fishing vessel operating in this part of the Pacific Ocean, and there are more than 3,500 of the vessels currently authorised to fish in the region.

“Longline fishing is well and truly out of control,” Toribau said. “Lines covered with thousands of baited hooks and up to 170 kilometres (105 miles) long are deployed by vessels. Tuna species are the target, but other ocean creatures like sharks and turtles get caught on the lines. Every year around 300,000 sea turtles and at least 160,000 sea birds die on longlines."

The problem with longline fishing is further exacerbated because these vessels are able to transship, a process where a fishing vessel transfers its catch to a massive reefer, or mothership, at sea.

Toribau said tuna fisheries are urgently in need of effective management and control, which must include an immediate ban on transshipping at sea, and the closure of the high seas pockets, known as the Pacific Commons, to all fishing.

“If fishing boats have nothing to hide they should have no problem landing or transferring their catches in port, where the fish can be accounted for properly,” he said. “Illegal behavior has been hidden out at sea for too long. It’s time for fisheries to clean up, step up and be responsible. If they don’t, there will be no tuna left.”

ENDS

"Australia and New Zealand have shown themselves to be the worst of neighbours with their self-serving approach to climate change. They will be remembered for their callousness in the face of the grave threats facing Pacific islands, as people are forced to leave their land and lose their livelihoods through climate change," said Mr Ritter.

"Australia and New Zealand have inadequate national targets are, they are frustrating global talks, they are beholden to big polluters - and now they are blocking a united Pacific voice."

The Pacific Islands Forum leaders meeting in Port Moresby is expected to issue a declaration on climate change today calling for global warming to be limited to 2 degrees ahead of the Paris climate talks. The 2C target is championed by Australia and New Zealand, who have ignored pleas from Pacific Island nations for a limit of 1.5 degrees, seen as a minimum to help mitigate the impact of climate change on the islands.

"Eight of 20 of the nations that stand to lose the most economically from natural disasters are in the Pacific region. Low-lying nations like Kiribati, Tuvalu and the Marshall Islands face being rendered completely uninhabitable by rising sea levels.

“Pacific countries are determined to fight for justice, for a fair go from the world community and for the future survival and prosperity of their people. But Pacific island countries are being betrayed by their neighbours, Australia and New Zealand,” Mr Ritter said.

Mr Ritter reacted strongly to news that Prime Minister Tony Abbott and his New Zealand counterpart, John Key, celebrated their success in cementing the 2 degree limit in the Pacific leaders’ declaration.

"The idea that Tony Abbott and John Key would sit down for a beer to celebrate their efforts at bullying some of the smallest, most vulnerable nations in the world is frankly revolting,” he said.

Earlier this week, Mr Ritter was in Port Moresby as part of a Pacific civil society forum which supported demands for strong, urgent action on climate change.

ENDS

“We are still tracking the Shuen De Ching No.888 and we have supplied all our information to the nations where the ship might pull into their ports, including Papua New Guinea, Nauru and Fiji.

“We think it is vital for Pacific nations to investigate this ship to show that illegal fishing will not be tolerated, particularly as the region tries to develop a sustainable fisheries industry,” said Lagi Toribau, Greenpeace Australia Pacific Global Tuna campaigner from aboard Greenpeace's Rainbow Warrior ship.

The call follows a Greenpeace East Asia protest in front of the TFA headquarters in Taipei today over the agency’s move to effectively reward an illegal fishing operation. Greenpeace East Asia had reported details of the pirate operation to the TFA as soon as Greenpeace activists on the Rainbow Warrior boarded the Shuen De Ching on Wednesday and confirmed it did not have a fishing license.

Frances Lo, Greenpeace East Asia’s Taipei office campaigner, said that instead of responding, the TFA appeared to have used the information supplied by Greenpeace to retrospectively legalise the vessel and backdate the license to April.

“Greenpeace has comprehensive documentation of the case of Shuen De Ching No.888 and authorities must take action,” said Ms. Lo.

“The Taiwan Fisheries Agency ignored Greenpeace’s constructive effort and support. Instead, they chose to protect the vessel and cover up its illegal fishing. This will seriously affect Taiwan’s international reputation, and it could lead to international sanctions.

“We demand that the government orders this illegal vessel to stop fishing and return to port immediately for a full and transparent investigation.

“Although the TFA has said it will follow up on the vessel’s illegal shark finning, the reality is it may use the investigation to further delay and cover up the problem,” she said.

ENDS

“Mr. Turnbull has repeatedly endorsed climate change science and has a deep understanding of the threats posed by climate change and global warming. We urge him to act on his own convictions and review Australia’s embarrassing and deficient climate change and environmental policies,” said Mr Ritter.

“Key amongst this would be a new commitment to transitioning Australia’s economy to renewable energy, which would also lead to job creation, while phasing out reliance on dirty fossil fuels.

“Australia once led internationally on tackling climate change, but Tony Abbott profoundly weakened this position by tainting economic policy with fossil fuel industry interests, and repeated attempts to destroy our renewable energy sector.

“Polling consistently showed that Mr. Abbott was out of touch with the concerns of ordinary Australians, who think the government should do more to address climate change. 

“Now that Mr. Turnbull has won the endorsement of the Liberal Party, he has an opportunity to do the right thing, and we look forward to a more inclusive approach towards civil society where environmental and social policies are concerned,” he said.

ENDS

The Government of the Nauru issued the ban on transshipping in its waters outside its port, and is calling on other Pacific Island Nations to do the same. A regular industry practice that is largely unmonitored, transshipping involves fishing vessels - longliners - transferring their catch to ‘motherships’ to be taken and sold in far-away markets. This means that boats can stay out at sea for years, evading checks on their fishing practices and licenses, and the treatment of their crew.

“Today’s announcement by Nauru is a shining example of the action that needs to be taken urgently to protect our Pacific Islands,” said Greenpeace Australia Pacific oceans campaigner Lagi Toribau from aboard the Rainbow Warrior.

“The longline industry is chronically unregulated and poorly monitored, and the high seas are currently acting as loopholes for pirate fishing boats.

“Out here, overfishing is the norm. Many tuna stocks are already in trouble, and illegal fishing is only adding to that pressure,” he said.

Nauru is the third Pacific country to ban the practice of transshipping, and their announcement is in response to last week’s bust by the Greenpeace ship Rainbow Warrior of a Taiwanese longline boat fishing illegally in the high seas that border Nauru’s national waters.

Greenpeace is calling for a complete overhaul of longline fisheries, including a ban on transshipping catch, to bring them under better control and proper management. There are more than 3,500 longline vessels currently authorised to fish by the Western and Central Pacific Fisheries Commission.

“If fishing vessels had to go to land to transfer their catch, it would solve many of the problems out here in the Pacific. It would make it easier to properly account for and manage these catches, and also boost the economies of Pacific Island countries where the catches come from.

“If the fishing industry is above board, they should have no problem with this solution. We need to put a stop to hiding dirty fishing practices out at sea.

“Although more than 70 percent of the world’s tuna comes from the Pacific, only 20 percent of that is actually caught by Pacific Island fleets. Industrial fishing has a huge impact on the Pacific Island countries that have relied on tuna for generations,” said Toribau.

In Fiji, local fishing vessels are mothballed and workers have been laid off. Local fisheries in Samoa, Tonga and other Pacific Island nations are also suffering.

Nauru’s ban on transshipping in its national waters is the latest in a series of important steps forward for the future of Pacific tuna stocks, which are declining at a rapid rate.

Greenpeace is calling on the Pacific Tuna Commission to adopt rules for the high seas that are compatible with those put in place by Pacific Island countries. This means the more countries that declare transshipping bans in their waters, the stronger the impetus for the high seas to also be closed to the practice.

ENDS

UK-based international bank Standard Chartered has become the second financial institution in just a few days to walk away from the proposed Carmichael mega coal mine in Queensland, with the Commonwealth Bank having ended its involvement in the project last week. The move by the banks comes hot on the heels of the Federal Court’s decision to revoke the mine’s federal approval due to Minister Hunt’s failure to properly consider its environmental impact.

Greenpeace Australia Pacific has welcomed the decision by Standard Chartered to end their role as the leading financial adviser to the Carmichael coal mine after the company's spokesperson told Greenpeace UK that they will no longer provide financial advice to the project.

"This is a victory for anyone who cares about the future of both the Great Barrier Reef and the world’s efforts to tackle climate change,” said Greenpeace Australia Pacific climate and energy campaigner Nikola Casule.

“This controversial project is now a massive reputational risk for even the world’s most powerful banks.”

“The federal court has already revoked the mine’s approval to operate. With both banks involved in the project now having pulled out it is beyond time for federal Environment Minister, Greg Hunt to end the uncertainty and rule out the government’s support for what is one of the most environmentally destructive fossil fuel developments in the world,” added Casule.

“Despite Prime Minister Abbott’s unprecedented attacks on the environmental movement and the judiciary last week over the Carmichael mine, Standard Chartered’s decision is further proof that the world's leading political and business decision makers know that the the world must move away from dirty coal.”

Carmichael would be Australia’s largest coal mine and one of the largest in the world. On the doorstep of the Great Barrier Reef, it would require massive seafloor dredging and port expansion, resulting in hundreds more coal ships sailing through Reef waters. At 28,000 hectares, it would also produce 121 million tonnes of carbon dioxide emissions yearly at maximum production driving climate change - the greatest threat to the Reef.