Informed sources close to the situation have revealed to BahamaIslandsInfo.com that the purse seine net itself has been offloaded from the Pelagic I commercial fishing vessel and repacked in a storage container.

Pelagic I is the 100-foot ship owned by brothers David and Paul Mellor and was the central component in their Bahamas Pelagic Fisheries and Aquaculture business. The Mellors mounted an intensive effort to explain to the public that their goals were genuinely intended to create a new industry and opportunity for increased employment.

The Mellors participated in a March 1st town meeting hosted by the Bahamas National Trust at their Rand Nature Centre in Freeport. At that meeting, experts in sportsfishing, scuba diving and science, as well as the Mellors themselves, presented their views on the commercial fishing and aquaculture plans.

Hundreds of local residents turned out, packing the hall, expressing concerns, and challenging the validity and viability of the Mellor’s venture. A handful of attendees stated their support of the planned operation, emphasizing the need for increased employment opportunities.

Opposition to the plans were significant, including an online petition, letters sent to the Prime Minister and relevant Government ministers, as well as a Facebook page that has grown to more than 4,000 members from around the world.

Sources told BahamaIslandsInfo.com this week that, not only has the purse seine net been hauled off the ship, but that the Mellors are retrofitting the craft to accommodate large tanks that can store and transport waste oil.

BahamaIslandsInfo.com spoke with David Mellor who confirmed that the purse seine net has been removed from their boat and placed in storage. He also said that they plan to sell the net.

Mellor confirmed that they will move away from the fishing operation.

“Instead of spending more money on fishing we have decided to get out of the business altogether,” David Mellor said.

“We are disappointed that the [Bahamas] Government has decided not to regulate [the commercial tuna fishing industry] but has decided instead to to shut it down completely,” Mellor continued.

When asked what exactly they plan to do, Mr Mellor said that they intend to collect and transport waste oil products out of the country. He said their new work will be very positive for the island [Grand Bahama] and they they would use their vessel to service ships in the area, transporting supplies and water to them, and collecting waste oil products.

Mr Mellor said that the waste oil products would be removed completely from the Bahamas and sold to a U.S.-based processing facility, apparently on the Gulf Coast, according to other sources.

Mr Mellor said that they will use ISO containers to do this. ISO containers are manufactured according to specifications from the International Standards Organization to ensure their suitability for multiple transportation methods such as truck and rail, or rail and ship.

Mellor also said that ships from which they collect waste products will be provided with a certificate confirming that the material has been collected and will be properly disposed of.

Mr Mellor said, “If more people focused on the positive opportunities in the Bahamas instead of the negative branding, the island would be better off.”

This new direction could actually have a tremendously positive effect on the environment of the Bahamas by taking oil products out of the country that may otherwise be detrimental to ground water and other key resources.

BahamaIslandsInfo.com spoke to Eric Carey, executive director of the Bahamas National Trust about this new direction. Mr Carey said, “We are pleased that the Mellors will not be fishing. It was the objective of the Bahamas National Trust to convince the Bahamas Government that this [commercial tuna fishing operation] was not sustainable.”

Mr Carey further said that this “can be considered a victory for the resource [tuna] and a victory for the entire Bahamas.”

The Bahamas National Trust, Carey said, “believes that we should all be operating on the general principle of sustainability.”

Commenting on the stated new direction of the Mellors towards helping to manage waste oil products, Mr Carey said that it sounded like a “sensible” use of the vessel. “This would reduce the impact on the environment and extends the life of fossil fuels, which we know is a finite resource.

“If indeed they are looking at collecting waste oil, then it prevents it from being disposed of improperly into the environment,” Mr Carey said. “This removes it from the system, and, based on this information, it sounds like a good decision.”

Mr Carey further said that the Bahamas National Trust “would be happy to talk with them [the Mellors] about the use of the vessel for something that seems very sensible.”

Source: BahamaIslandInfo

The Thai Union 3 tuna fishing vessel with 23 Russians, two Filipinos and two Ghanaians on board was hijacked by two pirate skiffs about 370 km (200 nautical miles) north of the Seychelles October 29. It was released on March 7 after a ransom was paid.

A plane carrying the Russians landed in Kaliningrad airport Khrabrovo after midnight March 15. The fishermen were met by relatives, friends and journalists.

“We always wait for our husbands with joy and excitement, but we have never before had to experience such suffering,” Tamara, the wife of fisherman Leonid Gerasimov, told RIA Novosti.

Thai Union is a Thai group of companies exporting canned tuna.

Pirates based in Somalia, which has been without an effective government since 1991, hijacked more than 40 vessels in 2009, and have already seized two this year.

Source: RIA Novosti

This time they did not succeeded, and his fate was to flee. Thus ended the Somali pirates who tried to attack yesterday Basque tuna seiner Txori  Argi  in Indian Ocean waters as the vessel managed to repel the aggression due to the security that was carrying, according to the owner.

In the attack, which occurred more than 80 miles from the main island of Seychelles, there was an exchange of gunfire, but the  vessel is in perfect condition, like all his crew.

The incident began when the Txori Argi noticed the presence  about eight miles away from an unknown ship, at which time began to move away from it. When  the Basque fishing vessel start this maneuver, two light boats took to the sea from that vessel. In this situation, the security officials of the fishing boat made several warning shots when the pirates were approaching peligrisamente, but did not stop the persecution. When approaching a mile, they fired several rounds at the bows of the light boats of offenders according the security protocol, at which time the pursuers finally abandoned their intention and turned back.

“The people on board are normal, they have not touched any weapon. The boat goes to a safer area but relatively, because that is all plagued. It was within the waters of Seychelles and it was assumed that this area there is no danger, “concluded the fishing boat shipping company, which is based in Bermeo.

Out of control. For its part, the skipper of the tuna seiner, Santi Gamboa, said the crew (a total of 29 of those 14 are Galician, three are Basques and the rest are from Ghana, Senegal, Seychelles, Madagascar), are now “more quiet “, although” in fear of finding another pirate ship. Both Gamboa and the rest of the fishermen called their families to reassure them after the attempted attack. “He had hardly finished the attack and called us,” he said in reference to the media, whose work of spreading these aggressions understood that, to some extent, help to unsettle the families of the sailors.

“Today (yesterday) we could not fish and tomorrow, imagine what we’ll do it peacefully,” he explained. The Commission stated that the area in which they worked is some 1,200 kilometers of the coast of Somalia, therefore, considered that the pirates’ not afraid ‘or’ is there is no control. “

Source: Diario de Burgos

The crew of the Talenduic, a French tuna boat, were targeted by the pirates as they fished waters around 400 miles south of the Somali coast on March 8.

The French boat was forced to put out a call for help to other ships in the area when they were surrounded by three boats being piloted in an aggressive fashion.

The pirates then attempted to attack the fishing boat, apparently unaware that all French boats currently fishing in the region are carrying armed guards.

Their attack was reportedly countered with rifle fire causing them to abandon their attempts and make efforts to flee the area.

But in the panic two of the pirate craft were capsized, after being hit by swells and driving into a rescue vessel arriving on the scene, depositing half a dozen Somali pirates into the Indian Ocean.

The magnanimous French crew helped to rescue their attackers pulling them aboard one of the Tuna boats.

The unlikely tale of heroism comes at the end of a week that has seen a strong French presence in the treacherous waters, with counter piracy strikes led by the French navy vessel Le Nivose netting 35 suspected Somali pirates.

Source: uptodatefrance.eu

The “Daniela F” Belize-flagged vessel with a carrying capacity of 2500 tonnes discharge approximately 1,700 tonnes of tuna and Vicente F “under flag of Nicaragua  discharge around 1200 tonnes.

These boats were helping to keep production of the plant’s largest tuna cannery in the country (PINSA), as the fleet of this company (Pesca Azteca SA), was still on his first trip catch of the year, this fleet stop activities because the ban set at the end of the last year.

This cannery consumes about 70,000 tons a year, and due to the downward trend in catches which has come to feel in this fishery in recent years have seen the need to import  tuna to supplement their needs of raw materials.

“We have released the ship after we received $3 million in ransom,” a pirate named Hassan told Reuters. “The ship is named Thai Union, its crew have safely moved from the Somali coast.”

Somalia pirate gangs — some made up of former fisherman angered by the presence of foreign fishing fleets in Somali waters — and their backers within Somalia and abroad have made tens of millions of dollars in ransoms.

The Thai Union was captured by men in two skiffs about 200 miles north of the Seychelles and 650 miles off the Somali coast.

“It was a fishing ship and now it has sailed away peacefully,” Hassan added.

The Somali brigands have been terrorizing the east African coast despite a flotilla of foreign navy vessels patrolling the Indian Ocean and the busy Gulf of Aden shipping lanes linking Europe to Asia.

In the latest attack, a gang hijacked a Marshall-Islands-registered tanker off Madagascar on Friday.

Source: Reuters

Meanwhile stricter management measures are being mooted by the Western and Central Pacific Ocean (WCPO), the largest supplier of tuna to the global market. The ban on the deployment of FADs, fishing restrictions in some high sea areas and possible reduction in the number of fishing days could significantly affect the supply, and thus the price of tuna raw material for Asian canneries. The call by Pacific Island Countries (PIC), which provide more than 50% of global tuna landings, for a respectable return for their tuna resources, and the proposed creation of a tuna cartel, could significantly change the landscape of the global tuna industry.

The above developments and the rapidly changing tuna business environment will be discussed by industry leaders, marketing and technical experts at TUNA 2010 Bangkok, 20-22 May, 2010. The speaker line up would also include representatives of Regional Fisheries Management Organizations (RFMOs), NGOs and governmental policy makers. Chairpersons Christopher Lischewski (President and CEO of Bumble Bee), Henk Brus (Managing Director, Atuna) and Chanint Chalisarapong (Vice President, Sea Value, Thailand and Chairman, Tuna Processors Group, TFPA) will be joined by a host of distinguished speakers from industry including Eric Landheer , Head of NASDAQ, OMX Group Asia Pacific, who will discuss the challenges faced by the sector in the current economic scenario.

Other speakers include Alejandro Anganuzzi (IOTC); John Hampton (South Pacific Commission); Guillermo Campean Jimenez (IATTC); Susan Jackson (International Seafood Sustainability Foundation); Julio Moron (Secretary, WTPO); Helga Josupeit (Food and Agriculture Organization); Anthony Vuoso (Vice President, Tri Marine International); Amornphan Aramwattanond (Director, Sea value, Thailand); Don Binotto (President, Starkist, USA); Sam Grossman (Marumi Products, USA) ; Lorna Buchanan (Clover Leaf Seafood, Canada) and Adolfo Valsecchi (CEO, MW Brand, France).

The controversial EU-IUU regulation will be discussed by Luis Molledo from DG of Maritime Affairs and Fisheries (MARE) of the EU Commission. He will review the implementation and impacts of the regulation to the tuna exporting countries. Others who will address the conference are Dario Chemerinski (Calvo Group Brazil); Fatima Ferdouse (INFOFISH); Ziad Abdel Rahim (Gulf Seafood Industry, UAE); Phil Knight (New Zealand); Mark Berman (Earth Island Institute); Paolo Bray (Friend of the Sea); Bill Holden (Marine Stewardship Council) and Gerard Roessink (The Netherlands) and several special guests including senior policy makers from leading tuna trading nations.

Source: luenthai.com

As the Albacora shipping company told news agency EFE, the attack took place about 8am (Spanish time). The trawler has already left the area and the crew have resumed their activity.

Somali pirates are currently holding six hijacked ships and 132 sailors, including those aboard the Al Nisr Al Saudi, according to the EU Naval Force.

That figure may increase in coming months. Pirate attacks typically spike during March, April and May, when calmer seas make it easier for pirates to board ships.

Somalia has been torn apart by civil war for the past 19 years. The shaky U.N.-backed government is barely able to hold a few blocks of its capital and is too focused on fighting an Islamist insurgency to send its forces after pirates.

Source: eitb.com

Apparently they succeeded and bought a boat: Pelagic I that we can deduce by the images were acquired in Europe and does not match the type of boat seines used in tropical waters in either the Western or Eastern Pacific.

This project to fish in waters of the Bahamas has not been without difficulties both by the opposition posed by recreational fishermen, and by some media who claim their past links to drug trafficking, an issue that concerns local authorities.

We have sent anonymously comments that indicated this link with the traffic of drugs and the possible use of this type of fishing as a way to mask his activities, which is not in our approach and not us to judge and to be subjected to analysis of the relevant authorities in the Bahamas.

Today was published in the online magazine bahamasweekly.com a communication from the Ministry of Agriculture and Marine Resources which establishes that the use of purse seine fishing will be banned completely to also ensure and maintain the fishery resources to sustainable levels.

We can not fail to mention the great opposition to this venture fishing, which apparently has resulted in an official response from the government of the Bahamas. See below.

Official Statement on Purse Seine Fishing or Net Fishing‏ by The Bahamas Government

By Ministry of Agriculture and Marine Resources

Purse Seine Fishing or Net Fishing

The Government of The Bahamas is not minded to permit the use of purse seine or net fishing within the waters of The Bahamas.

This method of fishing could result in the possible depletion or signification reduction of the fishing stocks in Bahamian waters. Having regard to the importance of sportfishing to the Tourism Industry, the Government takes the position that purse seine or net fishing will not be permitted in The Bahamas.

Consequently, the necessary amendments to the Fisheries Conservation (Jurisdiction and Conservation) Act and Regulations will be made, in order to maintain a sustainable level of fisheries resources within Bahamian waters. The legislation will prohibit the use of purse seine or net fishing to ensure that all fisheries resources, including migratory fish, are maintained at sustainable levels.

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Director of the institute Mark Berman who is currently in the country for a week said this.

He made the stern warning following revelation that a Korean Tuna company is having talks with the Minister of Fisheries and Marine Resources Nollen Leni.

Last week Leni said government is in talks with a Korean fishing company.

“That company is Dong Won, ” Mr Berman said.

The Korean company once operational should provide some 3000 jobs for local Solomon Islanders.

But speaking to Solomon Star, Mr Berman said that job creation will not be possible if nothing is done to stop the dolphin trade and captivity.

“The company can go ahead with its tuna factor but we cannot certify them to export its products,” he said.

Another company which intends to invest in Guadalcanal in Frabelle Fishing company of Philippine.

But Mr Berman said both of these tuna companies are dolphin-safe listed and they know the consequences if Guadalcanal continues to be a centre of dolphin trade.

“We saying this over and over again for about five years now and if the government does not listen it will also affect its tuna trades,” he said.

Source: Solomon Star