Environmentalists pile on pressure in Indian Ocean tuna row
MOMBASA, Kenya — An ongoing row between the European Union and coastal Indian Ocean nations over sustainable tuna fishing continues to simmer after a resolution in early February temporarily banned the use of destructive driftnets despite opposition from the European bloc.
Civil society organizations sent a petition recently to the EU’s oceans and environment commissioner, Virginijus Sinkevičius, accusing fisheries lobbies of exerting undue pressure on Brussels to object to the ban, which applies to fisheries devices used by some corporations in the bloc.
Brian Inganga, Associated Press
Fishermen swim out from an incoming boat at a berth, some with their overnight catch, June 12, 2022, in Kwale county, Gazi Bay, Kenya.
The much-criticized driftnets are “at the heart of the European fleets” in the Indian Ocean, said Claire Nouvian, who heads the scientific non-governmental organization Bloom and is one of the signatories of the petition.
The EU is a major consumer of tuna, and its powerful fishing fleets trawl distant oceans to meet the continental demand.
Over 90% of tuna sold in the EU comes from the Indian Ocean and is caught through controversial fisheries aggregating devices, according to the Indian Ocean Tuna Commission.
The EU said it had sent a “comprehensive proposal” on the driftnets that addressed concerns on usage, plastic pollution and marking gear. It added that it is “supportive of the adoption of a strong management measure for yellowfin tuna and other tropical species.”
Brian Inganga, Associated Press
Fisherman Kassim Abdalla Zingizi holds a yellowfin tuna after a catch June 14, 2022, in Vanga, Kenya.
Susan Jackson, the president of the International Seafood Sustainability Foundation, urged regional fisheries management organizations to “cooperate, communicate and collaborate” and to turn to the science to cool down tensions between negotiating blocs.
In an interview with The Associated Press, Jackson said science could help “depoliticize” decision-making and in turn improve “the sustainability of global tuna fisheries and the ecosystems that support them.”
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Environmentalists pile on pressure in Indian Ocean tuna rowERIC SKITZI
In this photo taken by a tourist Eric Skitzi from England, tourists watch as tsunami waves hit the shore from a safe place inside Casuarina Beach Hotel resort in Penang, northwestern Malaysia around 1 p.m. local time Sunday, Dec. 26, 2004. The resort hotel lifeguards noticed waves were huge and sounded warning to all tourists around the hotel beach area to run to the safety area. (AP Photo/Eric Skitzi)
ERIC SKITZIIn this photo taken by a tourist Eric Skitzi from England, tourists watch as tsunami waves hit the shore from a safe place inside Casuarina Beach Hotel resort in Penang, northwestern Malaysia around 1 p.m. local time Sunday, Dec. 26, 2004. The resort hotel lifeguards noticed waves were huge and sounded warning to all tourists around the hotel beach area to run to the safety area. (AP Photo/Eric Skitzi)
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Environmentalists pile on pressure in Indian Ocean tuna rowGemunu Amarasinghe
In this Dec. 26, 2004 file photo, tidal waves wash through houses at Maddampegama, about 60 kilometers (38 miles) south of Colombo, Sri Lanka. (AP Photo/Gemunu Amarasinghe, File)
Gemunu AmarasingheIn this Dec. 26, 2004 file photo, tidal waves wash through houses at Maddampegama, about 60 kilometers (38 miles) south of Colombo, Sri Lanka. (AP Photo/Gemunu Amarasinghe, File)
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Environmentalists pile on pressure in Indian Ocean tuna rowBedu Saini, Serambi Indonesia
In this Dec. 26, 2004 file photo, Acehnese youths try to pull a man to higher ground through a flooded street a moment after tsunami strike in the provincial capital of Banda Aceh, Aceh province, Indonesia. (AP Photo/Bedu Saini, Serambi Indonesia, File)
Bedu Saini, Serambi IndonesiaIn this Dec. 26, 2004 file photo, Acehnese youths try to pull a man to higher ground through a flooded street a moment after tsunami strike in the provincial capital of Banda Aceh, Aceh province, Indonesia. (AP Photo/Bedu Saini, Serambi Indonesia, File)
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Environmentalists pile on pressure in Indian Ocean tuna rowAPICHART WEERAWONG
Thai and foreign tourists flock a pier as they wait to be evacuated from the famous resort island of Phi Phi in Krabi province, southern Thailand Monday, Dec. 27, 2004. (AP Photo/Apichart Weerawong)
APICHART WEERAWONGThai and foreign tourists flock a pier as they wait to be evacuated from the famous resort island of Phi Phi in Krabi province, southern Thailand Monday, Dec. 27, 2004. (AP Photo/Apichart Weerawong)
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Environmentalists pile on pressure in Indian Ocean tuna rowSUZANNE PLUNKETT
A man talks on his phone near smashed cars along Patong Beach, Monday, Dec. 27, 2004, in Phuket, Thailand. (AP Photo/Suzanne Plunkett)
SUZANNE PLUNKETTA man talks on his phone near smashed cars along Patong Beach, Monday, Dec. 27, 2004, in Phuket, Thailand. (AP Photo/Suzanne Plunkett)
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Environmentalists pile on pressure in Indian Ocean tuna rowGurinder Osan
FILE - In this Dec. 27, 2004 file photo, people displaced by the tsunami mourn their losses as they sit inside a relief camp at a temple in Varichikudi, about 200 kilometers (125 miles) south of Madras, India. (AP Photo/Gurinder Osan, File)
Gurinder OsanFILE - In this Dec. 27, 2004 file photo, people displaced by the tsunami mourn their losses as they sit inside a relief camp at a temple in Varichikudi, about 200 kilometers (125 miles) south of Madras, India. (AP Photo/Gurinder Osan, File)
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Environmentalists pile on pressure in Indian Ocean tuna rowVincent Thian
In this Dec. 27, 2004 file photo, a young tsunami victim's father cries as he holds the body of his son along with other family members at the Galle Hospital in Galle, Sri Lanka. (AP Photo/Vincent Thian, File)
Vincent ThianIn this Dec. 27, 2004 file photo, a young tsunami victim's father cries as he holds the body of his son along with other family members at the Galle Hospital in Galle, Sri Lanka. (AP Photo/Vincent Thian, File)
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Environmentalists pile on pressure in Indian Ocean tuna rowDavid Longstreath
Karl Nilsson of Lulo, Sweden, poses with a sign saying his parents and brothers are missing, in this Dec. 28, 2004, file photo, in Phuket, Thailand. The young boys parents were swept out to sea Sunday, Dec. 26, 2004, when the tsunami struck their beach hotel just north of Phuket, Thailand. (AP Photo/David Longstreath, File)
David LongstreathKarl Nilsson of Lulo, Sweden, poses with a sign saying his parents and brothers are missing, in this Dec. 28, 2004, file photo, in Phuket, Thailand. The young boys parents were swept out to sea Sunday, Dec. 26, 2004, when the tsunami struck their beach hotel just north of Phuket, Thailand. (AP Photo/David Longstreath, File)
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Environmentalists pile on pressure in Indian Ocean tuna rowEranga Jayawardena
In this Dec. 28, 2004 file photo, a view of the main bus stand that was destroyed by tidal waves at Galle, Sri Lanka. (AP Photo/Eranga Jayawardena, File)
Eranga JayawardenaIn this Dec. 28, 2004 file photo, a view of the main bus stand that was destroyed by tidal waves at Galle, Sri Lanka. (AP Photo/Eranga Jayawardena, File)
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Environmentalists pile on pressure in Indian Ocean tuna rowGautam Singh
In this Dec. 28, 2004 file photo, villagers walk with their belongings past two boats that were washed ashore by tidal waves at Nagappattinam, in the southern Indian state of Tamil Nadu. (AP Photo/Gautam Singh, File)
Gautam SinghIn this Dec. 28, 2004 file photo, villagers walk with their belongings past two boats that were washed ashore by tidal waves at Nagappattinam, in the southern Indian state of Tamil Nadu. (AP Photo/Gautam Singh, File)
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Environmentalists pile on pressure in Indian Ocean tuna rowSuzanne Plunkett
In this Dec. 28, 2004 file photo, a boat passes by a damaged hotel, at Ton Sai Bay on Phi Phi Island, in Thailand. (AP Photo/Suzanne Plunkett, File)
Suzanne PlunkettIn this Dec. 28, 2004 file photo, a boat passes by a damaged hotel, at Ton Sai Bay on Phi Phi Island, in Thailand. (AP Photo/Suzanne Plunkett, File)
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Environmentalists pile on pressure in Indian Ocean tuna rowMANISH SWARUP
A girl waves to her friends from inside the Indian Air force plane AN32 as she is being evacuated from Cambal Bay, in India's southeastern Andaman and Nicobar Islands, Tuesday, Dec. 28, 2004. (AP Photo/Manish Swarup)
MANISH SWARUPA girl waves to her friends from inside the Indian Air force plane AN32 as she is being evacuated from Cambal Bay, in India's southeastern Andaman and Nicobar Islands, Tuesday, Dec. 28, 2004. (AP Photo/Manish Swarup)
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Environmentalists pile on pressure in Indian Ocean tuna rowAPICHART WEERAWONG
Three and a half year old Thai boy Watanyu Pa-opas grimaces as he lies on a Takuapa hospital bed in Pang-Nga province, southern Thailand Tuesday, Dec. 28, 2004. Rescue workers found Watanyu while he was hanging on a tree in Kor Khao island in Pang-Nga province early on Tuesday, about 50 hours after giant tidal waves triggered by earthquake in Indonesia swept through his village. (AP Photo/Apichart Weerawong)
APICHART WEERAWONGThree and a half year old Thai boy Watanyu Pa-opas grimaces as he lies on a Takuapa hospital bed in Pang-Nga province, southern Thailand Tuesday, Dec. 28, 2004. Rescue workers found Watanyu while he was hanging on a tree in Kor Khao island in Pang-Nga province early on Tuesday, about 50 hours after giant tidal waves triggered by earthquake in Indonesia swept through his village. (AP Photo/Apichart Weerawong)
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Environmentalists pile on pressure in Indian Ocean tuna rowDavid Longstreath
In this Dec. 29, 2004 file photo, Kusol Wetchakul offers prayers for the soul of his sister, at dawn along the beach near Khao Lak, Thailand. Wetchakul's sister was swept out to sea and believed drowned as she sold goods to tourists on the popular tourist beach just north of Phuket. (AP Photo/David Longstreath, File)
David LongstreathIn this Dec. 29, 2004 file photo, Kusol Wetchakul offers prayers for the soul of his sister, at dawn along the beach near Khao Lak, Thailand. Wetchakul's sister was swept out to sea and believed drowned as she sold goods to tourists on the popular tourist beach just north of Phuket. (AP Photo/David Longstreath, File)
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Environmentalists pile on pressure in Indian Ocean tuna rowSTR
Pyres of victims who were killed by tidal waves burn on the beach at Alappad, in the southern Indian state of Kerala, Wednesday, Dec. 29, 2004. (AP Photo/Str)
STRPyres of victims who were killed by tidal waves burn on the beach at Alappad, in the southern Indian state of Kerala, Wednesday, Dec. 29, 2004. (AP Photo/Str)
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Environmentalists pile on pressure in Indian Ocean tuna rowANDY WONG
Annal Mary kisses her 20-day-old baby S.Tulasi, who survived the weekend tsunamis at her restaurant in Penang resort island, northwestern Malaysia, Wednesday, Dec. 29, 2004. The parents of the 20-day-old baby who survived the weekend tsunamis by floating on a mattress said her escape was "a real miracle," but the family won't leave the seaside district that has been their home for decades. (AP Photo/Andy Wong)
ANDY WONGAnnal Mary kisses her 20-day-old baby S.Tulasi, who survived the weekend tsunamis at her restaurant in Penang resort island, northwestern Malaysia, Wednesday, Dec. 29, 2004. The parents of the 20-day-old baby who survived the weekend tsunamis by floating on a mattress said her escape was "a real miracle," but the family won't leave the seaside district that has been their home for decades. (AP Photo/Andy Wong)
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Environmentalists pile on pressure in Indian Ocean tuna rowBinsar Bakkara
In this Dec. 30, 2004 file photo, bodies of tsunami victims who died recently lie on the pavement at an overcrowded hospital in Banda Aceh, Aceh province, Indonesia. (AP Photo/Binsar Bakkara, File)
Binsar BakkaraIn this Dec. 30, 2004 file photo, bodies of tsunami victims who died recently lie on the pavement at an overcrowded hospital in Banda Aceh, Aceh province, Indonesia. (AP Photo/Binsar Bakkara, File)
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Environmentalists pile on pressure in Indian Ocean tuna rowGURINDER OSAN
Residents clear debris from their houses to recover their belongings at Nagappattinam, in the southern Indian state of Tamil Nadu, Thursday, Dec. 30, 2004. (AP Photo/Gurinder Osan)
GURINDER OSANResidents clear debris from their houses to recover their belongings at Nagappattinam, in the southern Indian state of Tamil Nadu, Thursday, Dec. 30, 2004. (AP Photo/Gurinder Osan)
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Environmentalists pile on pressure in Indian Ocean tuna rowBULLIT MARQUEZ
An areal view of a wide swath of destruction of Banda Aceh Thursday Dec. 30, 2004 in Aceh province northwest of Indonesia. (AP Photo/Bullit Marquez)
BULLIT MARQUEZAn areal view of a wide swath of destruction of Banda Aceh Thursday Dec. 30, 2004 in Aceh province northwest of Indonesia. (AP Photo/Bullit Marquez)
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Environmentalists pile on pressure in Indian Ocean tuna rowDavid Longstreath
In this Dec. 30, 2004 file photo, Thais walk outside a Buddhist temple, near Takuapa, Thailand, where more than 1,000 bodies were gathered. (AP Photo/David Longstreath, File)
David LongstreathIn this Dec. 30, 2004 file photo, Thais walk outside a Buddhist temple, near Takuapa, Thailand, where more than 1,000 bodies were gathered. (AP Photo/David Longstreath, File)
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Environmentalists pile on pressure in Indian Ocean tuna rowGURINDER OSAN
Tsunami victims at a relief camp reach for rice packets being distributed in Nagappattinam, in the southern Indian state of Tamil Nadu, Friday, Dec. 31, 2004. (AP Photo/Gurinder Osan)
GURINDER OSANTsunami victims at a relief camp reach for rice packets being distributed in Nagappattinam, in the southern Indian state of Tamil Nadu, Friday, Dec. 31, 2004. (AP Photo/Gurinder Osan)
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Environmentalists pile on pressure in Indian Ocean tuna rowED WRAY
Anthony Gerard stands among the ruins of his parents' home Friday, Dec. 31, 2004 in Mullaitivu village in the rebel-held northern part of Sri Lanka. Gerard who became a refugee in 1990 when the Sri Lankan army recaptured the area from the rebels, was now again living in a refugee camp after the tsunami wrecked his home and killed his parents, wife and daughter. (AP Photo/Ed Wray)
ED WRAYAnthony Gerard stands among the ruins of his parents' home Friday, Dec. 31, 2004 in Mullaitivu village in the rebel-held northern part of Sri Lanka. Gerard who became a refugee in 1990 when the Sri Lankan army recaptured the area from the rebels, was now again living in a refugee camp after the tsunami wrecked his home and killed his parents, wife and daughter. (AP Photo/Ed Wray)
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Environmentalists pile on pressure in Indian Ocean tuna rowGURINDER OSAN
Local fishermen carry the body of an infant as photographs of unidentified members of an affected family lie in foreground, after they were recovered by earthmovers, unseen, clearing debris at a fishermen's colony which was hit by a tsunami, in Nagappattinam, in the southern Indian state of Tamil Nadu, Saturday, Jan. 1, 2005. (AP Photo/Gurinder Osan)
GURINDER OSANLocal fishermen carry the body of an infant as photographs of unidentified members of an affected family lie in foreground, after they were recovered by earthmovers, unseen, clearing debris at a fishermen's colony which was hit by a tsunami, in Nagappattinam, in the southern Indian state of Tamil Nadu, Saturday, Jan. 1, 2005. (AP Photo/Gurinder Osan)
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Environmentalists pile on pressure in Indian Ocean tuna rowGurinder Osan
In this Jan. 1, 2005 file photo, Lakshmi, center, Selvi, right, and Ariamala, rear with mask, grieve as earthmovers clear debris of their damaged house at a fishermen's colony which was hit by a tsunami, in Nagappattinam, in the southern Indian state of Tamil Nadu. (AP Photo/Gurinder Osan, File)
Gurinder OsanIn this Jan. 1, 2005 file photo, Lakshmi, center, Selvi, right, and Ariamala, rear with mask, grieve as earthmovers clear debris of their damaged house at a fishermen's colony which was hit by a tsunami, in Nagappattinam, in the southern Indian state of Tamil Nadu. (AP Photo/Gurinder Osan, File)
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Environmentalists pile on pressure in Indian Ocean tuna rowSAURABH DAS
S. Sanjay, held by his mother, R. Vangiamma, cries as he is injected with an anti-tetanus shot by B. Valarmathi, at Vedaranyam, in the southern Indian state of Tamil Nadu, Monday, Jan. 3, 2005. Thousands of people have lost their homes on Dec. 26, 2004, as a massive tsunami hit the area. (AP Photo/Saurabh Das)
SAURABH DASS. Sanjay, held by his mother, R. Vangiamma, cries as he is injected with an anti-tetanus shot by B. Valarmathi, at Vedaranyam, in the southern Indian state of Tamil Nadu, Monday, Jan. 3, 2005. Thousands of people have lost their homes on Dec. 26, 2004, as a massive tsunami hit the area. (AP Photo/Saurabh Das)
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Environmentalists pile on pressure in Indian Ocean tuna rowAndy Eames
In this Jan. 4, 2005 file photo, Senior Chief Petty Officer James Cash from San Diego, California, surveys damage to Banda Aceh town from the tsunami wave from a United States Naval helicopter flying over the Indonesian province of Aceh. (AP Photo/Andy Eames, File)
Andy EamesIn this Jan. 4, 2005 file photo, Senior Chief Petty Officer James Cash from San Diego, California, surveys damage to Banda Aceh town from the tsunami wave from a United States Naval helicopter flying over the Indonesian province of Aceh. (AP Photo/Andy Eames, File)
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Environmentalists pile on pressure in Indian Ocean tuna rowVincent Yu
In this Jan. 6, 2005 file photo, a tourist poster is seen behind some debris of destroyed building, at a village near Khoa Lak, southern Thailand. (AP Photo/Vincent Yu, File)
Vincent YuIn this Jan. 6, 2005 file photo, a tourist poster is seen behind some debris of destroyed building, at a village near Khoa Lak, southern Thailand. (AP Photo/Vincent Yu, File)
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Environmentalists pile on pressure in Indian Ocean tuna rowAchmad Ibrahim
In this Jan. 8, 2005 file photo, US Navy AW2 Maxwell Bjeule tries to restrain a surging crowd of survivors as they struggle to get food and other supplies being unloaded from a US Navy Sea Hawk helicopter during its continuing sortie to the tsunami-stricken town of Meulaboh, southeast of Banda Aceh, the capital of Aceh province, in northwest Indonesia. (AP Photo/Achmad Ibrahim, File)
Achmad IbrahimIn this Jan. 8, 2005 file photo, US Navy AW2 Maxwell Bjeule tries to restrain a surging crowd of survivors as they struggle to get food and other supplies being unloaded from a US Navy Sea Hawk helicopter during its continuing sortie to the tsunami-stricken town of Meulaboh, southeast of Banda Aceh, the capital of Aceh province, in northwest Indonesia. (AP Photo/Achmad Ibrahim, File)
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Environmentalists pile on pressure in Indian Ocean tuna rowAchmad Ibrahim
In this Jan. 8, 2005 file photo, a huge SOS sign remains on a road leading to Meulaboh, southeast of Banda Aceh, the capital of Aceh province, during a continuing sortie by US Navy Sea Hawk helicopters from the US aircraft carrier USS Abraham Lincoln in northwest Indonesia. (AP Photo/Achmad Ibrahim, File)
Achmad IbrahimIn this Jan. 8, 2005 file photo, a huge SOS sign remains on a road leading to Meulaboh, southeast of Banda Aceh, the capital of Aceh province, during a continuing sortie by US Navy Sea Hawk helicopters from the US aircraft carrier USS Abraham Lincoln in northwest Indonesia. (AP Photo/Achmad Ibrahim, File)
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Environmentalists pile on pressure in Indian Ocean tuna rowEUGENE HOSHIKO
U.S. Navy sailors take cover from wake of the U.S. Navy Seahawk to deliver relief goods to isolated area Saturday, Jan. 8, 2005 at the military airport in Banda Aceh, Indonesia. (AP Photo/Eugene Hoshiko)
EUGENE HOSHIKOU.S. Navy sailors take cover from wake of the U.S. Navy Seahawk to deliver relief goods to isolated area Saturday, Jan. 8, 2005 at the military airport in Banda Aceh, Indonesia. (AP Photo/Eugene Hoshiko)
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Environmentalists pile on pressure in Indian Ocean tuna rowBULLIT MARQUEZ
A tsunami survivor wades through a still-flooded portion of Banda Aceh as a damaged van lies in the background Sunday Jan. 9, 2005, in northwest Indonesia. (AP Photo/Bullit Marquez)
BULLIT MARQUEZA tsunami survivor wades through a still-flooded portion of Banda Aceh as a damaged van lies in the background Sunday Jan. 9, 2005, in northwest Indonesia. (AP Photo/Bullit Marquez)
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Environmentalists pile on pressure in Indian Ocean tuna rowPeter Dejong
In this Jan. 9, 2005 file photo, Norhayati, right, and her niece Ita cry as they embrace when meeting for the first time since the tidal wave left a trail of destruction in a small village on the outskirts of Banda Aceh, Sumatra island, Indonesia. (AP Photo/Peter Dejong, File)
Peter DejongIn this Jan. 9, 2005 file photo, Norhayati, right, and her niece Ita cry as they embrace when meeting for the first time since the tidal wave left a trail of destruction in a small village on the outskirts of Banda Aceh, Sumatra island, Indonesia. (AP Photo/Peter Dejong, File)
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Environmentalists pile on pressure in Indian Ocean tuna rowEugene Hoshiko
In this Jan. 10, 2005 file photo, an elephant which belongs to forest ministry removes debris in Banda Aceh, Indonesia. (AP Photo/Eugene Hoshiko, File)
Eugene HoshikoIn this Jan. 10, 2005 file photo, an elephant which belongs to forest ministry removes debris in Banda Aceh, Indonesia. (AP Photo/Eugene Hoshiko, File)
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Environmentalists pile on pressure in Indian Ocean tuna rowGreg Baker
In this Jan. 30, 2005 file photo, an aerial view shows the Rahmatullah Lampuuk mosque in the village of Lhoknga, near Banda Aceh, Indonesia. (AP Photo/Greg Baker, File)
Greg BakerIn this Jan. 30, 2005 file photo, an aerial view shows the Rahmatullah Lampuuk mosque in the village of Lhoknga, near Banda Aceh, Indonesia. (AP Photo/Greg Baker, File)
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Environmentalists pile on pressure in Indian Ocean tuna rowDita Alangkara
In this Feb. 17, 2005 file photo, an Acehnese man smokes a cigarette near a house on which a fishing boat landed after it was swept away by tsunami in Banda Aceh, Aceh province, Indonesia. (AP Photo/Dita Alangkara, File)
Dita AlangkaraIn this Feb. 17, 2005 file photo, an Acehnese man smokes a cigarette near a house on which a fishing boat landed after it was swept away by tsunami in Banda Aceh, Aceh province, Indonesia. (AP Photo/Dita Alangkara, File)
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