Sierra Leone
Fisheries – Hope In West Africa 2017
Greenpeace and Sierra Leonean Fisheries Authorities conducting surveillance and inspect illegal
fishing activities in the EEZ of Sierra Leone.
April 15, 2017
NATURAL SOUND
DURATION: 03.54 min
SOURCE: GREENPEACE
ACCESS ALL, NO RESTRICTIONS. ALL MATERIAL GREENPEACE COPYRIGHT.
SUMMARY –
During a four day joint surveillance exercise between Greenpeace and the fisheries inspection of
Sierra Leone, three fishing vessels have been arrested and sent to port and one vessel will be further
investigated for various infractions ranging from illegal net sizes on board of the vessel, lack of
administration of the fish that was caught and shark finning. Greenpeace also found numerous
carcasses of sharks and manta rays on board several vessels.
Cona
Cona, a Korean demersal trawler was drifting in 3100 meters deep water which is much too deep for
this kind of fishing vessel. The name of the vessel was covered with nets to obscure the identity. The
mesh size of the nets of the vessel were too small, enabling too small and juvenile fish to be caught.
The freezer of the vessel was completely full and according to the crew the vessel was waiting to
tranship the catch onto another vessel at sea. Which is illegal. This could however not be confirmed.
The Cona was ordered into port by the fisheries inspection, where it will undergo further inspections.
During the ‘Hope in West Africa’ Tour, Greenpeace is in the West African region with the Esperanza.
The vessel is visiting six countries, all members of the Sub Regional Fisheries Commission (SRFC), to
advocate for the need for a regional management system to preserve the regions precious fisheries
resources. The vessel is engaged in research, joint surveillance missions with local authorities and
meetings with ministers and officials in the ports that are visited in Cabo Verde, Mauritania, Senegal,
Guinea Bissau, Guinea and Sierra Leone.
SHOTLIST
1. 00:00-00:03 MID - Profile Sierra Leone Fisheries inspector with binoculars on the bridge of
Esperenza.
2. 00:03-00:09 WIDE – Back of Sierra Leone Fisheries inspector
3. 00:09-00:15 WIDE – Captain Mike Fincken of Greenpeace ship Esperenza using the ships
horn to draw the attention of the Korean fishing vessel Cona.
4. 00:15-00:21 MID- Fishing vessel Cona with name of the Vessel hidden by fishing net.
5. 00:21-00:27 Sierra Leone Fisheries inspector calling up fishing vessel Cona on the Radio
6. 00:27-00:32 Sierra Leone Fisheries inspector in Greenpeace inflatable, Esperanza in the
background.
7. 00:32-00:37 Fishing vessel Cona, now with the name revealed.
8. 00:37-00:44 Sierra Leone Fisheries inspector communicating with the Korean vessel.
9. 00:44-00:58 Greenpeace inflatable approaching Cona.
10. 00:58-01:03 African crew onboard Cona looking down on Greenpeace inflatable.
11. 01:03-01:07 Sierra Leone Fisheries inspector boarding the vessel.
12. 01:07-01:17 Inspector on the roof of the vessel.
13. 01:17-01:22 Fishing net being pulled down on deck.
14. 01:22-01:29 Sierra Leone Fisheries inspector tells the captain to come.
15. 01:29-01:58 Various - Chinese Captain holding the fishing net while inspector measuring it.
16. 01:58-02:02 Crew looking into the wheelhouse of the vessel.
17. 02:02-02:38 Various – inspector reading up the charges to the Chinese captain in the
wheelhouse of the vessel; illegal net & hidden identification of the vessel.
18. 02:38-02:44 CUP – inspector with paper with the infractions.
19. 02:44-02:51 CUP – facial expressions of the Chinese captain.
20. 02:51-02:55 Crew looking into the wheelhouse.
21. 02:55-03:09 Various -Passports being confiscated.
22. 03:09-03:13 Chinese captain observing while passports being confiscated.
23. 03:13-03:16 Crew looking into the wheelhouse.
24. 03:16-03:24 Captain signing the arrest documents and uses the ships stamp.
25. 03:24-03:43 Inspector ordering the captain