Witnessing the plunder: a report of the MV Greenpeace expedition to investigate pirate fishing in West Africa

Abstract

Greenpeace is campaigning against pirate fishing, a global phenomenon which affects many regions of the world, especially developing countries. Pirate fishing is one of the pernicious results of a situation of exacerbated competition in the fishing industry. As industrialised countries see their fish stocks decrease and impose stricter control measures in their waters, fishing companies and boat owners find ways to evade the constraints, and displace their destructive activities to areas where effective control is absent to continue to supply consumers with their favourite seafood.