Dec
12
Galicia applauds vote against trawling ban
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Trawling net. (Photo: NOAA)
Galicia applauds vote against trawling ban
SPAIN
Thursday, December 12, 2013, 03:30 (GMT + 9)
The Xunta de Galicia applauded the fact that the European Parliament (EP) has rejected the proposal to ban deep-sea trawling in the northwest Atlantic.
For the Galician government, MEPs were sensitive to the social and economic impact that this decision could have.
And it notes that the vote is consistent with the balance between environmental, economic and social aspects of this fishery defended by Galicia.
The Galician Executive always stressed the need to respect the sensitive areas and to assess the impact of this type of fishing, before taking such drastic decision as that of banning its deepwater development, which is what the Greek Socialist MEP Kriton Arsenis wanted.
Following this decision of the European Parliament, the regional government says it will continue working toward its endorsement at the next Council of Ministers.
The Galician authorities insist that there are no good or bad fishing gear types, but well or badly used fishing gear. Also, they consider that fishermen’s experience and knowledge must be taken into account.
The Galician Government emphasizes that deep water trawling ban “would threaten more than 300 vessels, which may be affected in varying degrees by an appreciable loss of competitiveness.”
Similarly, direct losses could amount to EUR 80 million and more than 2,500 workers would be threatened.
The Xunta details that more than 164 trawlers operating in international waters, Gran Sol and the Cantabrian coast; nearly 140 vessels fishing with gillnets in the coastal Cantabrian coast and more than 10 vessels operating under other community flags, but not being of Galician capital, would be affected.
Related article:
– MEPs reject total bottom trawling ban
By Analia Murias
editorial@fis.com
www.fis.com
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