The Greenpeace ship Esperanza and Palauan patrol boat, PSS President H.I. Remeliik are currently escorting the vessel Sheng Chi Hui to port.
A Greenpeace helicopter flight spotted the sharks and fins on board the Sheng Chi Hui on the morning of 08 December, while the fishing vessel was inside Palaun waters – which were declared a shark sanctuary in 2009.
“The Sheng Chi Hui was in apparent breach of the law here in Palau’s exclusive economic zone. Illegal fishing is costing the future of our people, our country’s economic development and is a threat to the future of the legitimate fishing industry. It must be stopped,” said Palau President Johnson Toribiong.
Greenpeace and the Government of Palau signed a joint agreement earlier this week to both enforce fisheries regulations and bring illegal pirate fishing operations to justice.
“We are honored to be working with Greenpeace in the protection of our fisheries resources and securing the livelihood and future of our people. Let this be a warning to illegal operators,” President Toribiong said.
