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A pier at the port in Vigo, in Galicia. (Photo: Julieta Fonterosa/FIS)
Multi-year plan to safeguard jobs in fishing sector proposed
SPAIN
Monday, May 04, 2015, 01:20 (GMT + 9)
The Foundation for Sustainable Economic and Social Minimum Performance (FREMSS) presented a project for the European Union (EU) to maintain, or even increase, about 37,000 fishing-related jobs in Galicia, Asturias, Cantabria and the Basque Country.
According to the secretary of the Foundation, Torcuato Teixeira, because of the importance of “economic and social fishery sustainability” and the relevance of “regionalization” of the measures “according to the characteristics of each area,” multiannual plans are needed with “biological, social and economic aims”.
“We have issued a draft with scientific advice and with professionals from the fishing sector and the rest of the industry that we have already presented in the consultative councils,” said the leader.
FREMSS members emphasize that in Northwest Bay of Biscay area “employment has figures that are unparalleled in Europe”, and they want to maintain this situation.
In total, there are 6,700 direct jobs in Galicia, Asturias, Cantabria and the Basque Country; and more than 30,000 indirect ones, whose maintenance, or increase, is claimed by the sector.
To Teixeira, the sector’s issues arise because “the ships do not have enough quotas for horse mackerel and mackerel to be profitable” although there is a stock of one million tonnes of mackerel in the area of which 4 per cent is captured, reported the agency EFE.
The aim of the Foundation is to present this “three to five year plan to allow the fleet to defend its business and jobs” to EU authorities throughout this semester.
From the entity it has been emphasized that they are seeking “social and economically sustainable enterprises” at a time in which Galicia has already lost 25 per cent of jobs linked to the fishing activity.
Teixeira stressed that they expect to have further quotas while maintaining the criteria for sustainable fishing.
“Only in the case of mackerel, the 0.01 per cent increase in fishing mortality would imply being able to receive 40,000 extra tonnes,” he stated.
According to their estimates, each extra ton of mackerel or horse mackerel for the fleet may represent nearly nine hours’ work in the retailer sector.
The draft plan has already been sent to the EU Fisheries Commissioner, Karmenu Vella.
Related article:
– Seiner owners support horse mackerel individual allocation
By Analia Murias
editorial@fis.com
www.fis.com
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