HIGH SEAS DRIFTNETTING:
THE PLUNDER OF THE GLOBAL COMMONS
A Compendium
Revised Edition
May 1994
Linda M.B. Paul, MS JD
Earthtrust
25 Kaneohe Bay Drive, Suite 205
Kailua, HI 96734 USA
(808) 254-2866
FAX: (815) 333-1158
E-mail: EarthTrust
TABLE OF CONTENTS
ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS
EXECUTIVE SUMMARY
MAJOR POINTS
INTRODUCTION
INTERNATIONAL LAW GOVERNING DRIFTNET FISHING ON
THE HIGH SEAS
Introduction
UNCLOS, Customary International Law,
and States Practice
United Nations General Assembly Resolutions
UN Resolution 44/225
UN Resolution 46/215
The Response to the UN Driftnet Moratorium
The South Pacific States'
Response
The South American States' Response
The United States' Response
The Canadian Response
The Response from Japan
The Response from the Republic of Korea
The Response from Taiwan
The Response from the Peoples' Republic
of China
The European Community Response
The Response from South Africa
Driftnet Fishing as an Abuse of the
Global Commons
HISTORY OF DRIFTNET FISHERIES IN OPERATION
The North Pacific Squid
Driftnet Fishery
Participants and Target
Species
Driftnet Characteristics
Areas and Seasons
Vessels and Crew
Operations
The Catch and By-Catch
Management
The North Pacific Large-Mesh Driftnet
Fishery
Participants and Target
Species
Large-Mesh Driftnet Characteristics
Areas and Seasons
Vessels and Crew
Operations
The Catch and By-Catch
Management
The South Pacific Large-Mesh Driftnet
Fisheries
Participants and Target
Species
Large-Mesh Driftnet Characteristics
Areas and Seasons
Vessels and Crew
The Catch and By-Catch
Management
The North Pacific Salmon Driftnet Fisheries
Introduction
Target Species
Participants
Salmon Driftnet Characteristics
Areas and Seasons
Vessels and Crew
The Catch and By-Catch
Management
The Indian Ocean Large-Mesh Driftnet
Fishery
Participants, Target Species,
and Vessels
Driftnet Characteristics
Areas and Seasons
The Catch and By-Catch
Management
The Atlantic Ocean Driftnet Fisheries
The North Atlantic
The Mediterranean
The Central Atlantic
The South Atlantic
THE PROBLEM OF WASTE: DROPOUTS, GHOSTFISHING AND
THE BY-CATCH
The Dropout Problem
Ghostfishing
The By-Catch
Seabirds
Marine mammals
Turtles
Sharks
SUFFICIENT DATA EXISTS TO SUPPORT A BAN ON DRIFTNET
FISHING
DRIFTNET DATA COLLECTION PROGRAMS 1952--1990
The North Pacific Salmon Driftnet
Fishery
The South Pacific Large-Mesh Driftnet
Fisheries
Data Collected by Australia
and New Zealand
Data Collected by Japan
Catch Data from a Virgin Waters Driftnet
Fishery Experiment
The North Pacific Large-Mesh Driftnet
Fisheries
The North Pacific Squid Driftnet Fishery
Single Nation Research Cruises
Joint Research Cruises
Observers on Commercial Driftnet Vessels
THE NORTH PACIFIC JOINT OBSERVER PROGRAM - 1989--1991
The 1989 North Pacific Joint
Observer Program
Introduction
Methods
Results
The 1990 North Pacific Joint Observer
Program
Introduction
The Japanese Squid Fishery - Methods
The Japanese Squid Fishery - Results
The Japanese Squid Fishery - Analysis
and Implications
The Republic of Korea Squid Fishery -
Methods
The Republic of Korea Squid Fishery -
Results and Analysis
The Taiwanese Squid and Large-Mesh Fisheries
- Methods
The Taiwanese Squid Fishery - Results
The Taiwanese Large-Mesh Fishery - Results
The Taiwanese Squid and Large-Mesh Fisheries
- Analysis
The 1990-91 Japanese Large-Mesh Fishery
- Methods
The 1990-91 Japanese Large-Mesh Fishery
- Results
The 1990-91 Japanese Large-Mesh Fishery
- Analysis
The 1991 North Pacific Joint Observer
Program
The Japanese Squid Fishery
- Introduction and Methods
The Japanese Squid Fishery - Results and
Analysis
The Republic of Korea Squid Fishery -
Introduction and Methods
The Republic of Korea Squid Fishery -
Results
The Taiwanese Squid and Large-Mesh Fisheries
- Intro and Methods
The Taiwanese Squid Fishery - Results
The Taiwanese Large-Mesh Fishery - Results
Analysis of the Data Collection Programs
through 1990
IMPACT OF DRIFTNET FISHING ON THE OCEANIC ECOSYSTEM
Introduction
Fishery, Biological, and Ecological Data
Requirements
THE BIG BUSINESS OF DRIFTNET FISHING
Driftnet Fleet Ownership
and Control
Japan
The Republic of Korea
Taiwan
Processing the Catch
Canned Tuna - Exports and Imports
The Black Market for Salmon
CAN DRIFTNET FISHERIES BE MANAGED?
Fishery Management Requirements
Driftnet Gear Modification Studies
Time and Area Closures
THE IMPACT OF DRIFTNET FISHING ON SUSTAINABLE
FISHERIES
Introduction
The North Pacific Albacore Fishery -
A Case History
The Participants
The Target Species
The Fishing Season
Albacore Trolling Operations
The Catch
The North Atlantic Salmon Fisheries
The North Pacific Salmon Fisheries
THE ENFORCEMENT PROBLEM
Introduction
Practical Problems of Enforcement
Examples of Unethical Reporting Practices
Illegal Fishing Activity and Enforcement
Efforts
Violations of the International North
Pacific Fishing Agreements
Illegal Driftnet Fishing in the South
Pacific
Illegal Driftnet Fishing in the Indian
Ocean
INTERNATIONAL LAW PROHIBITING DEPREDATION OF
THE HIGH SEAS
Piracy Against the Global
Commons
Human Rights Abuses by Driftnet Fleet
Owners
Mandates from International Conventions,
Resolutions, Conferences
CONCLUSION
ENDNOTES
LIST OF TABLES AND FIGURES
REFERENCES
Earthtrust
25 Kaneohe Bay Drive, Suite 205
Kailua, HI 96734 USA
(808) 254-2866
FAX: (815) 333-1158
E-mail: EarthTrust
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