Mar
28
Rosa Quintana, head of the Rural and Marine Affairs Secretary of Galicia. (Photo: Xunta de Galicia)
‘New mackerel and horse mackerel allocation boosts fishery organization’
SPAIN
Friday, March 28, 2014, 23:30 (GMT + 9)
The head of the Secretary for Rural and Marine Affairs of the Xunta de Galicia, Rosa Quintana, ensures said that the new model for allocating mackerel and horse mackerel quotas in the purse seine sector will make it possible to extend the fishing activity over time and landings in the area.
It will also help improve the organization of the fisheries in the Northeast Cantabrian area and carry out a better marketing approach.
Quintana insists that this option is better than returning to the ‘Olympic’ fishing activity, as it will allow a more efficient resource use, “having secured a quota that, otherwise, was formerly almost inaccessible.”
In this sense, she argues that the new model will make it possible to capture migratory resources in Galician waters such as mackerel, which could not be caught before “as soon as the fish came to our shores because the quota had been exhausted.”
According to the secretary, the allocation of quotas is carried out “in accordance with the law and with defined criteria,” pondering the socio-economic aspect of the Galician fleet.
In the case of purse seine, this allocation system provides almost 25 per cent of the mackerel quota and 43.2 per cent in the case of horse mackerel, which translates into 3,406 tonnes and 8,939 tonnes, respectively.
Quintana also recalled that “mackerel was burdened and conditioned by a fine paid for overfishing this species permitted by the Central Government in 2009 and 2010.”
And she added: “We have to keep in mind that this allocation based on historical criteria has always benefitted Galicia for the vast majority of fleets and fishing firms.”
Despite the issues defended by the head of the Secretary, the majority sector of the purse seine fleet of Galicia prepares lawsuits because it considers the quota allocation for mackerel and horse mackerel is harmful to their interests.
According to the president of the Association of Purse Seiners of Galicia (Acerga), Andrés García, the legal services of the entity are studying the proceedings they could start via an administrative or even criminal approach, reports La Opinión.
Related articles:
– Mackerel and horse mackerel quota allocation made official
– Government and purse seine fleet reach agreement on pelagic quotas
By Analia Murias
editorial@fis.com
www.fis.com
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