THE PRESSURE IS ON TO STOP THE DAMANZAIHAO – A NOTORIOUS BLACKLISTED VESSEL – FROM LEAVING PERU WITH UNPAID FINES AND RESUMING ITS SLAUGHTER OF OVER HALF OF A MILLION TONS OF MARINE WILDLIFE PER YEAR.
The Damanzaihao is the largest fish factory vessel in the world, capable of processing 547,000 tons of fish per year. As a result of the Damanzaihao’s illicit fishing activities, the government of Peru issued a multi-million USD fine against the vessel in 2014. That debt remains outstanding and, while in port in Chimbote, the Damanzaihao has been polluting Peru’s waters.
Despite these atrocities, the vessel has reflagged to Belize and was seeking authorization to slip out of port in the night and head to China.
Sea Shepherd vessel M/V John Paul de Joria was recently in Peruvian waters, investigating and gathering intelligence to assist the Peruvian Government.
The Peruvian Government has denied the vessel’s request to depart by issuing an order refusing clearance.
Sea Shepherd thanks the Peruvian Coast Guard, Interior Ministry, Ministry of the Environment (MINAM), Federal Environmental Prosecutor for the District of Santa: Dr. Evelyn LaMadrid Vences, and Harbour Master of the port of Chimbote for temporarily restricting the Damanzaihao from departing.
Belize was previously “red carded” by the European Commission for its lack of commitment to tackle illegal, unreported, and unregulated (“IUU”) fishing. While its red-card has since been lifted, Belize must immediately take measures to refrain from inappropriately continuing to flag the Damanzaihao and allowing it to destroy marine ecosystems across the planet.
Sea Shepherd, together with its government allies in Peru, are working to ensure that the Damanzaihao’s efforts to exploit the oceans are thwarted in the long-term.
