Greenpeace film shown on Sajo industries' office building. (Photo: Jeremy Sutton-Hibbert/Greenpeace)

Greenpeace attacks tuna company

An animation depicting the trail of Pacific tuna destruction was projected this Tuesday onto onto the office building of Sajo Industries in the city of Busan, home to Korea’s distant water fishing fleet, by activists from the Greenpeace flagship Rainbow Warrior.

South Korean company Sajo is highlighted in the animation for its role in the decline of Pacific tuna stocks and the indiscriminate killing of thousands of sharks, turtles and other marine life unwanted by the industry, but hauled on board as bycatch.

The Greenpeace criticism follows years of failure by the South Korean fishing industry to support sustainable management of Pacific tuna stocks.

The organization highlights that just last year, Korea helped derail a major proposal by Pacific island nations at the Western and Central Pacific Fisheries Commission (WCPFC) that would have helped rescue Pacific tuna. Meanwhile, two key species of tuna in the region, bigeye and yellowfin, are now being overfished.

Sajo is the largest fishing company in Korea and the 3rd largest fishing company in the world, with 7 purse seiners, 79 long-liners and 2 mothership operating in the Pacific.

Greenpeace reminds that some of Sajo's fishing vessels have been caught in illegal activities.

"We are drawing a line against Sajo’s corporate greed. When our tuna is being depleted by companies to the point of collapse, it is time for governments to intervene and ensure we still have tuna left for the future," said Lagi Toribau, Oceans Campaigner of Greenpeace.

"Greenpeace is calling on the South Korean government to start properly regulating its fishing fleet, and to fulfill its obligations as a responsible international player.  This year, the government has an opportunity to show some leadership by supporting conservation measures at the scientific forum of the Tuna Commission in August and the annual Tuna Commission meeting in December," Toribau added.

Greenpeace is campaigning for a global network of marine reserves covering 40 per cent of the world’s oceans and for a more sustainable fishing industry, both necessary steps to restoring our oceans to health.

The Rainbow Warrior is currently in Busan to raise awareness on overfishing and oceans destruction.

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