To: Commissioners Joe Borg and Androulla Vassiliou
Subject: EU Hygiene Laws and Pirate Fishing in West Africa
Message:
Dear Commissioners Borg and Vassiliou,
Illegal 'Pirate' fishing is having devastating impacts on marine environments and local fishing communities in West Africa. Countries like Sierra Leone, where 80% of animal protein comes from fish, are being targeted by the illegal operators. Sierra Leone is ranked last of 179 on the UN Human Development Index, and the theft of their fish is having an ever greater impact on the country's efforts to recover from its brutal civil war.
Local communities that are completely dependent on fish are losing both their livelihoods and main food source. As a result many are being forced to take their children out of school, are suffering malnutrition and a lack of adequate medical care, and in some cases, are being forced to abandon their communities altogether. If this was not bad enough the illegal trawlers are destroying precious artisanal fishing gear, and even engage in a direct conflict which has resulted in local injuries and deaths.
Investigations by the Environmental Justice Foundation (EJF) have revealed the impacts of illegal pirate fishing and shown that failings in EU regulations and joined up government between DG Sanco and DG Mare are helping the pirates in their operations. Also, I am very worried that because the failing laws concern food hygiene, my health as a seafood consumer could be at risk.
I urge you to take action now, and look forward to hearing that DG Sanco and DG Mare are working together to ensure that the European Commission is doing all it can to end pirate fishing in West Africa, and to protect consumer safety.
Thank you.
Yours sincerely,
[Your name and will go here]
