Nov
7
Fishing vessels at a port in Galicia. (Photo: Ministerio de Hacienda y Administraciones Publicas de España)
Galicia invests more in scientific assessment of fish stocks
SPAIN
Friday, November 08, 2013, 03:00 (GMT + 9)
The head of the Xunta de Galicia, Alberto Núñez Feijoo, announced that the 2014 official budget reflects an increase of 66 per cent of the funding for the scientific evaluation of fishery resources.
During the opening ceremony of the ‘First Congress of Social and Economic Sustainability of the Fisheries Sector,’ the Galician president stressed that the regional government is developing a triple challenge: the stimulation of the productive capacity, the advance in product commercial assessment and the internationalization of the production.
The Government of Galicia is to allocate about EUR 2 million to the development of new markets and seafood campaigns. This allocation is to grow nearly 62 per cent and is part of a wider regularization programme of fishery market production, reaching an investment of more than EUR 15 million.
With respect to the third commitment, the Galician President stressed the stimulation of exports and the achievement of a sustained increase in the canning industry, which in 2012 reached 4.1 per cent growth.
In the 2014 budgets approximately EUR 20 million from the programme will be allocated to support internationalization, that is to say, 19 per cent more than in the previous fiscal year.
The official stressed the need to ensure the survival and economic viability of the fishing sector companies.
In addition, he stated that in Galicia the exercise of responsible and sustainable fisheries has always been protected and promoted.
For the head of the regional government, it is also necessary that the total allowable catches (TACs) and fishing quotas allocated to Spain are higher for certain species, as long as they have scientists’ support.
“This is what we have been demanding in recent months in the case of the hake in the Gran Sol area. From Galicia we requested a better fishing use of this resource, with increase in the quota this year 2013,” said Nuñez Feijoo.
In this regard, he was satisfied that this request, supported by reports that certify the improvement of biomass in these waters, has been heard, and expressed his hope that “it will soon be addressed.”
Nuñez Feijoo recalled that a few days ago the European Commission (EC) proposed a global rise of hake stock catches in the Gran Sol area of 14,325 tonnes for the entire Community fleet. Out of that figure, Spanish vessels fishing in EU waters in Ireland, the UK and France would have an increase of 4,019 tonnes, that is to say, 27 per cent more than it was originally planned.
The EC also proposed an increase in 2014 of northern hake catches by 49 per cent, to 81,846 tonnes.
For the president of Galicia, both propositions are good but insufficient to meet the demands of the fishing industry.
“If we join — government and industry – forces; and if we back our demands with reasonable and sustainable principles; and if we are able to demonstrate the need for and the benefits of our demands, we will be able to move forward with our goals and achieve the coveted results that ensure a better future for the fishing industry, ” he concluded.
At present, some 35,000 families live in Galicia on any activity related to fishing.
By Analia Murias
editorial@fis.com
www.fis.com
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