Greenpeace activists aboard the Rainbow Warrior confronted Italian fishing pirates in the Mediterranean sea, some 65 kilometres south of the Italian island of Ponza, confiscating a section of the 8 kilometre long and 12 metre deep driftnet from the Italian vessel, which was being illegally used to catch a dwindling stock of swordfish. A sea turtle caught up in the nets was cut loose by the activists and released back into the sea.

The fishing pirates were using a fishing practice that has long been banned by the United Nations and the European Union because it also traps and kills thousands of whales, dolphins and turtles each year in the Mediterranean. (1). Every night at this time of year these fishing pirates have cast enough driftnets to span the length of the Mediterranean and back again.

"Driftnets are walls of death, and their use is flagrant piracy," said Alessandro Gianni aboard the Rainbow Warrior. "Greenpeace continues to expose the offenders, but let's be clear - the responsibility to enforce the driftnets ban and punish these villains lies with the Italian government and the European Union. It is scandalous that for years Mediterranean governments have continued to condone piracy, when the law has given them a mandate to protect the Mediterranean Sea."

The Rainbow Warrior left Genoa this week on the first leg of its three-month Defending Our Mediterranean tour of 7 countries. (2) The Greenpeace ship Esperanza has also just completed a three-week tour of the Mediterranean, part of the global expedition Defending Our Oceans. (3)

Greenpeace is calling for the establishment of a network of marine reserves covering 40% of the sea to protect threatened marine life, replenish the sea's fish stocks and conserve the beauty and productivity of the Mediterranean. (4)

"All the countries of the Mediterranean from Africa, Asia and Europe need to take a united stand on our sea - to stop illegal fishing and protect this shared resource. The livelihood of millions of people depends upon it," said Sofia Tsenikli of Greenpeace Greece aboard the Rainbow Warrior.