Apr
25
Cephalopod fishing vessel. (Photo: Terje Engoe)
Cephalopod fleet concerned about possible agreement between China and Mauritania
SPAIN
Friday, April 26, 2013, 02:20 (GMT + 9)
The Galician fishing sector engaged in catching cephalopod specimens has expressed concern not only about the fact whether it will fish in Mauritanian waters again, but also about a likely agreement between the governments of Mauritania and China.
While 20 Galician boats have remained moored since last August on account of their exclusion from the fishing agreement between the European Union (EU) and Mauritania, it emerged that the Chinese company Poly Hon Done is negotiating a new bilateral fisheries agreement.
The representatives of the General Secretariat of Fisheries confirmed the negotiations to sailors and trade unions.
“This agreement with the Chinese could be settled in the coming weeks and, if so, the situation would become really complicated for us,” admitted CIG-Mar head, Xavier Aboi.
To the union leader, it is necessary for the Spanish Government to exercise political pressure “directly on Mauritania,” the newspaper La Opinion reported.
Mauritania and the Chinese company signed an agreement for 25 years in 2011, amounting to USD 100 million, but it was cancelled in February 2013 due to the fact that, among other issues, the investments on land that had been planned did not take place.
The Minister of Marine Affairs of the Xunta de Galicia, Rosa Quintana, avoided expressing an opinion regarding the alleged talks between Mauritania and China.
“At the Council of Ministers held on Monday, the only fact was certain was that at the request of Spain an item was introduced on the agenda to discuss fisheries agreements with Morocco and Mauritania,” she said.
On the other hand, those affected by the agreement met with the Fisheries Secretary General, Carlos Dominguez, for him to become aware of the “dramatic situation” they have been facing after nine months of “mandatory stoppage.”
After the meeting, Aboi claimed: “We always end up in the same situation: whether or not there are octopus, but that’s better than nothing, and the question is why this survey has not been carried out given the fleet has remained moored for nine months.”
Through a press release, the Galician Inter-Union Confederation (CIG) has announced that in the coming days similar meetings are expected to be held with political groups in the European Parliament (EP) and to obtain support from MEPs of the Communist Party of Portugal, EFE agency reports.
Meanwhile, the deputy director of International Agreements of the Fisheries General Secretariat, Carlos Moreno, stated that an experimental survey could be the chosen formula by the EU and Mauritania to verify the octopus stock status in the fishing grounds in the African country.
“The EU intention is to agree on the immediate start of an experimental survey to verify existing data on the abundance of octopus in the area,” the official added, Diario de Pontevedra reported.
Related article:
– Spain asks about fisheries agreement delay with Morocco and Mauritania
By Analia Murias
editorial@fis.com
www.fis.com
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