Target: Virgínia Mária da Cruz Godinho Pires Correia, Minister of Fisheries and Maritime Economy
Goal: Enforce bans on illegal offshore fishing and fish factory production.
Africa’s Guinea-Bissau coast is teeming with endangered species, and its biodiversity has earned it the nickname of the Galapagos of West Africa. But these animals face an existential threat because the food they rely on for sustenance is gobbled up by the tons courtesy of illegal overfishing. Local communities that depend on fishing for their livelihoods and their own nourishment are suffering as well.
This coastal area is protected, with fishing permits only granted to smaller boats. But lurking just outside the protected zone are floating fish factories the sizes of football fields. These vessels are commissioned by countries like China, who then reportedly deploy fishing boats to slip within the protected waters and scoop up as much sardinella fish as possible. Once their hauls are secured, the boats then apparently return to the larger vessels, where the sardinella are processed into oil and fishmeal on-site.
While the government of Guinea-Bissau has taken steps to ban both onshore and offshore oil and fishmeal production, concerns remain about enforcement of these policies. Sign the petition below to urge a strong and decisive back-up of these needed measures.
PETITION LETTER:
Dear Minister Correia,
The bans and permit suspensions adopted by the newly reshaped Ministry of Fisheries and Maritime Economy represent an important step toward curbing the destruction caused by offshore floating fish factories. These vessels and their reported thievery have taken enough from coastal communities and from marine life. They are causing ecological and environmental damage that will leave a lasting scar if allowed to continue.
Enforcement is absolutely critical. Please support the new regulations by deploying the resources and personnel necessary to ensure these rules are upheld. The fate of the Galapagos of Africa will depend on your vigilance in this matter.
Sincerely,
[Your Name Here]
Photo Credit: Cesar O’Neil
