US: Investigation reveals high levels of shark fishing plaguing the North Pacific

Greenpeace has uncovered widespread destructive fishing practices in the North Pacific's Emperor Seamounts, a crucial biodiversity hotspot and cultural site for Indigenous Hawaiians. The organization's investigation has documented high levels of shark fishing, using longline methods that result in significant bycatch, contributing to global shark population declines. This investigation is part of Greenpeace's efforts to designate the Emperor Seamounts as a Marine Protected Area under the new Global Ocean Treaty, aiming to protect 30% of the world’s oceans by 2030. Additionally, the investigation highlighted harsh labour conditions on fishing vessels, with migrant workers from Indonesia facing substandard working conditions and isolation from family and unions. Greenpeace is urging the Biden-Harris Administration to expand the Seafood Import Monitoring Program and ratify the Global Ocean Treaty in 2025, and is pushing for seafood companies and retailers to adopt more sustainable fishing practices and improve labour conditions.