Feb
28
Rosa Quintana, head of the Ministry of Marine Affairs of Xunta de Galicia. (Photo: Xunta de Galicia)
Fishermen end strike after Xunta’s commitment to analyse claims
SPAIN
Friday, March 01, 2013, 01:10 (GMT + 9)
After having been moored for eight days, the Galician coast fleet decided to end the strike, in accordance with the commitment of the head of the Ministry of Marine Affairs, Rosa Quintana, to analyse their demands and try to adapt the Community legislation to the Galician reality.
A meeting with Quintana that lasted more than three hours was held and then fishermen making use of trawling, gillnet and longline fishing gear in the Northwestern Cantabrian fishing ground had a meeting in A Coruña, which determined fishishing would be resumed.
The coastal fishermen began the protest to demand a change to the current weighing system, which establishes captures must be weighed in the landing port, an Electronic Fishing Logbook must be used and a system of points on licences must be developed.
The head of Rural and Marine Affairs expressed her willingness to adapt Community legislation to the needs of Galicia, respecting the law and complying with the rules.
As to landings, for example, she raised the possibility of checking fish at the destination and not in the landing area. This was one of the main demands of the sector, since not all the markets (which are the only authorized weighing points) are open when the ships arrive in port, so the crew was forced to transport the load to other pier.
In this regard, the regional government will analyze the option of checking the catch at the destination port after the corresponding “sealing” of the truck to see if it fits to the provisions of the EU regulation, which has been in force since January 2010.
As for the problems of using the electronic logbook, Quintana pointed out she will do her best for the authorities of Madrid, with whom she will meet in the next few hours, find a legal way to implement exceptions to the obligation of giving notice of the arrival in port four hours before. This rule is considered absurd by the Galician fleet, the newspaper La Voz de Galicia reported.
Ship owners are complaining because they ensure that Galicia is the only place where it is implemented. The fishermen’s claim is to use paper again so as to avoid the delays caused by the lack of knowledge on the use of the electronic logbook.
The entire fleet mooring in the ports of A Coruña, Burela, Celeiro, Muxía, Ribeira for more than a week had an impact on the market: sections 6 and 7 of the market of Muro are completely empty.
Due to the strike, there is virtually no blue whiting, or flat fish or coastal hake. There are only products of high sea fishing, of minor gear modes and shellfish, explained an auctioneer.
Related articles:
– Trawlers’ strike prevented mackerel fishing start
– Galician coast fleet strike complicates fish supply
By Silvina Corniola
editorial@fis.com
www.fis.com
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