Fishing vessel. (Photo Credit: LDRAC)
SPAIN
Friday, May 09, 2014, 22:00 (GMT + 9)
The Spanish Fisheries Confederation (CEPESCA) informed the spokesperson of the Popular Fisheries Party in the European Parliament (EP), Gabriel Mato, about the priorities of the Spanish fishing sector for the coming years.
The meeting was attended by CEPESCA president and general secretary, Amador Suarez and Javier Garat, respectively; the Vice President of the entity and president of the National Association of Hake Fishing Freezer Vessels (ANAMER), Juan Manuel Liria; the director of the Cooperative of Shipowners of Port of Vigo (ARVI), José Ramón Fuertes; AGARBA president, Ivan Lopez; the manager of the Associated Producers of Big Tuna Freezer Vessels (OPAGAC), Julio Morón; and CEPESCA Deputy General Secretary, Rocío Béjar.
The fisheries sector considers that the European Parliamentarians must know and defend their interests in the EP Fisheries Committee "to ensure effective, enforceable and science-based regulation," CEPESCA expressed in a press release.
The Confederation delegates also thanked Mato for his management in the Presidency of the Fisheries Committee during the latest years, the aid made available to the Spanish fishing sector and its predisposition.
Meanwhile, Mato pledged to do everything possible to respond the requests from a sector that is as strategic as the fishery one.
Besides, the Confederation also asked Mato to defend the amended regulation on technical measures of the Mediterranean Sea to adjust it according to the sector’s needs, taking into account the recommendations made by scientists.
At the same time, Garat stressed the importance of enhancing the external dimension of the Common Fisheries Policy (CFP) and the need to invest in the maintenance and improvement of fisheries agreements with third countries.
These agreements would be beneficial for the tuna, longline and trawl fleets.
Garat also emphasized the reinstatement of the cephalopod fleet to the fishery agreement between the European Union (EU) and Mauritania, among other issues.
To CEPESCA it is important that the EP becomes aware of the importance of the fishery region organizations (ORP) and considers the scientific reports when it has to establish the management fishery measures.
Finally, CEPESCA general secretary asked Mato for bluefin tuna quotas to increase and the closure periods for Mediterranean swordfish to be modified during the negotiations in the International Commission for the Conservation of Atlantic Tunas (ICCAT).