DAKAR –
West African countries have seven Chinese ships at the chain laid on suspicion of illegal fishing. The fines for such violations can be in the millions, say Greenpeace and government officials.
Inspectors from Guinea, Guinea-Bissau and Sierra Leone discovered during inspections that the crews of the vessels under more guilty made on the catch of protected fish species. Greenpeace played a key role in the checks. The environmental organization gave inspectors a lift aboard the vessel Esperanza, because national governments in West Africa by a lack of resources, often barely able to maintain.
In total, during two months, 37 ships checked, of which there are eleven in violation turned out to be. Off the coast of West Africa, there are many fish-rich waters. That, according to Greenpeace, however, have been fished out by huge trawlers that are sometimes illegally operating.