About 80 members of the activist group Greenpeace stormed the halls of the European Seafood Exposition in Brussels, Belgium, earlier today, protesting the state of global tuna stocks.
Greenpeace activists wearing fluorescent yellow vests spray painted "time and tuna is running out" and "business closed" in several languages in the booths of five tuna producers said Greenpeace spokesperson Farah Obaidullah. They also chained themselves to the booths and remained there until removed by authorities.
In addition, activists repelled from the roof of Hall 5 and hung a Greenpeace banner in protest of the state of global tuna stocks, and hijacked the sound system at the exhibition grounds to play the message "time and tuna are running out."
Show organizers worked with authorities from the Brussels Exhibition Grounds and the city to remove the group from the hall.
"There are differing opinions in every industry," said Mary Larkin, VP of seafood expositions for show organizer Diversified Business Communications of Portland, Maine. "We worked with the police and local authorities to ensure [Greenpeace activists] were removed safely from the building."
Exhibitors quickly returned to business once they were removed, added Larkin.
Steven Hedlund, reporting from the European Seafood Exposition
