Stolen Fish / The failure of the LoP scheme

STOLEN FISH / THE FAILURE OF THE LoP SCHEME ACT NOW http://act.gp/nostealingfish THE SCHEME HOW IT'S EXPLOITED 3 THE DAMAGE DONE REGULATORY VIOLATIONS India's Ministry of Agriculture (MoA) introduced the Letter of Permit (LoP) scheme as a means to allow US$150m-$220m LOSSES The foreign vessels, licensed under the LoP, violate its guidelines in many ways. Some “Bottom Trawl", which is prohibited under the LoP. Bottom-trawling is a very destructive fishing technique that involves dragging nets the size of football fields weighing as much as 5 tons, along the sea floor, destroying critical marine habitats and life. fishing vessels of foreign origin, to operate and fish in India's seas, provided they are registered in India TO THE INDIAN EXCHEQUER TUU fishing is estimated to incur India losses between under the scheme. US $150 – US $220 Million annually. Industry estimates Some also flout the law by fishing in territorial waters (within 12 nautical miles), Clear irregularities of the LoP and its poor enforcement have resulted in overfishing, the collective earnings of these vessels under the LoP scheme between Rs 600 to Rs.1000 Crores annually. In return, India earns a tiny amount around Rs.80,000 (a which is prohibited. compromising the livelihoods of coastal communities, the business interests of the one-time payment for these vessels to obtain the license and not a recurring payment). Public records of Indian fishing sector, revenue from the taxes levied on the catch from India's seas by these vessels do not exist. LoP DESTRUCTION OF MARINE LIFE AND HABITATS Illegal fishing not only destroys critical marine habitats, but also results in a large amount of by-catch (fish not intended as catch but accidentally caught by the fishing The Letter of Permit vessels with non-targeted fishing technologies like trawling and large-scale long-lining). the systematic degradation of India's marine environment and monumental losses NEGATIVE IMPACTS ON OUR FISHERFOLKS' LIVELIHOODS to India by way of revenue. TRANS-SHIPMENTS Greenpeace India recently exposed violations of The operation of these vessels in India's seas under the LoP scheme is contributing to the decline of local fish-stocks, and thereby impacts coastal communities and the Indian fishing sector. DOUBLE FLAGGING Trans-shipments (Mid-sea transfers of fish the LoP scheme and the exploitation of its catch from smaller vessels to their mother A fishing vessel can wave only one flag - i.e have only one active registration under one country. regulatory loopholes by foreign fishing firms. ship) are allowed under the LoP, provided the catch is reported to the authorities in detail. However, considering that such transfers are often self-regulated, the fish catch of these vessels from India's seas are often unreported or under-reported. Many of these vessels violate this by having two or more active registrations including India under the LOP scheme. This allows them to fish in GREENPEACE different seas and oceans, including India - reaping profits that run into million of dollars. Find more information at: © LOCHAN BARATAKKE / GREENPEACE www.greenpeace.org/india/stolenfish