Hans J Marter

16 May, 2007

ACTIVISTS on board the Greenpeace vessel Arctic Sunrise arrived in Aberdeen yesterday afternoon (Tuesday) to meet with fishermen's representatives and politicians as part of their campaign to stop fishing for cod.

The switch of tactics follows three days of confrontations in Shetland waters when the environmental campaigners swam in front of fishing vessels demanding they halt fishing.

The environmental group's actions have been condemned by fishermen as irresponsible and dangerous, but Greenpeace retorted that they knew what they were doing after 30 years of non violent direct action.

Yesterday a Greenpeace spokesman said they had come to the north east of Scotland in the hope of lining up meetings with fishermen and politicians interested in the issue, though nothing had been organised so far.

"We are hoping to speak to politicians and spokespeople for the fishing industry while we are here. Nothing definite is in the diary as yet, but hopefully politicians and fishermen will get in touch with us to have a chat," he said.

The group plans to leave Aberdeen later in the week, with the Artic Sunrise expected in Lerwick by the weekend.

Greenpeace argues that the cod stocks in the North Sea are well below safe biological limits and fishing for the species should be stopped immediately. They are also calling for large marine reserves to be designated.