Oct
7
Andalusian trap fishery. (Photo: Stock File)
Govt and autonomous communities advocate for higher bluefin tuna quota
SPAIN
Tuesday, October 07, 2014, 23:50 (GMT + 9)
The central government and fisheries authorities of several autonomous communities advocate for increased fishing quotas for bluefin tuna in the Atlantic and Mediterranean oceans for next year.
The head of the Ministry of Agriculture, Food and Environment (MAGRAMA), Isabel García Tejerina, and counselors of Andalusia, Asturias, Baleares, Canarias, Cantabria, Castilla-La Mancha, Catalonia, Galicia, Murcia and Valencia participated in a Sector Conference and Fisheries Advisory Council in order to prepare the meeting of ministers of the European Union (EU) to be held next Monday in Luxembourg.
Among other issues, bluefin tuna and swordfish fishing opportunities will be analyzed in the meeting.
“Given good bluefin tuna status, we’re going to request a quota increase at the meeting of the International Committee for the Conservation of Atlantic Tunas (ICCAT),” explained Rosa Quintana, Secretary for Rural and Marine Affairs of Galicia.
The ICCAT will decide on bluefin tuna and swordfish fishing in November in Genoa, Italy.
The Andalusian secretary of Agriculture and Fisheries, Elena Viboras, also advocated for an increase in the fishing quota of bluefin tuna, a fishing resource considered “very important” to her fleet and industry.
Furthermore, Viboras stressed that the data show “improvement” of bluefin tuna and abundance, according to both scientific study and the industry, EFE agency reported.
The Andalusian official recalled that out of the 13,000 tonnes from the total allowable catch (TAC), 2,504 tonnes correspond to Spain, and 976 tonnes to Andalusian fishermen: between 600 and 680 tonnes are for the traps of Cádiz (Conil, Zahara, Tarifa and Barbate), 185 tonnes are for the fleet of Carboneras (Almería) and 135 tonnes are for fishing vessels with port in the waters of the Strait.
Quintana considers that in 2013 there were signs of recovery, but European Fisheries Commissioner Maria Damanaki refused to acknowledge that improvement and did not defend increased catches.
Furthermore, both counselors emphasized that scientists ensure that a responsible management of swordfish is being developed, which shows positive signs.
And Quintana said that the Spanish Government will request the maintenance of swordfish catches in the same levels.
Meanwhile, the spokesperson of the Socialist Group of the Council and provincial secretary of the PSOE in Cadiz, Irene Garcia announced that they will present an initiative to demand “higher quotas” of bluefin tuna.
“Overall, both the report and the statistical analyzes previously performed” by ICCAT “point to an improvement of the situation of bluefin tuna stocks over the last assessment conducted in 2010,” Garcia told the agency Europa Press.
And she added: “Andalusian professionals working in the artisanal fishery are the main stakeholders in the conservation of bluefin tuna. A proof of their firm commitment in this direction is the progressive reduction in fishing fleet capacity, which has actively contributed to the recovery of the species.”
PSOE’s proposal urges the Government to “request the EU to ensure the maintenance of the other measures outlined in the Recovery Plan, designed to guarantee the objectives of the survival of the species.”
Related articles:
– Bluefin tuna quota completed in just 24 hours
– ‘Amazing bluefin tuna recovery’ detected
By Analia Murias
editorial@fis.com
www.fis.com
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