Despite the violence faced last Friday by activists defending the bluefin, Greenpeace took action again today to free bluefin tuna.

The Arctic Sunrise approached a net cage for fish being towed by a Tunisian tug-boat and attempted to cut it open. The towing line between the cage and tug-boat was also cut in order to try to prevent the tuna from being taken to a ranching operation, where the fish are fattened. Fishermen reacted angrily, forcing activists away from the net using their seining vessel and inflatable boats.

The practice of putting tuna in giant cages in also called tuna ranching. What's so bad about it? Tuna are caught by purse seine vessels and taken alive to cages located close to the coast, were they are fed for months before being exported, mainly to Japan. Tuna ranching also makes it very hard to know just how much tuna is actually caught, as well as to estimate the amount that is still left in the sea (though it's a fair guess to say it's dreadfully low already).

Our action was met by violence of on the side of fishermen, so we unfortunately had to cut it short to avoid seeing anyone hurt (especially following Friday's serious injury), but we will remain in the area to take action for the bluefin.

For years, Greenpeace has been pressuring governments and the bodies meant to manage the fishery to think beyond the short-term interest of the bluefin fishing industry and instead focus on the long-term health of the Mediterranean.

>>TAKE ACTION: Ask for a marine reserve for the bluefin tuna of the Mediterranean