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Spanish cephalopod fleet. (Photo: R. Basili)
Cephalopod sector to be left out of negotiations with Mauritania
SPAIN
Friday, September 26, 2014, 23:10 (GMT + 9)
The Commissioner for Maritime Affairs and Fisheries of the European Union (EU), Maria Damanaki, reiterated she will not negotiate the inclusion of a cephalopod fishing quota of the new fisheries agreement with Mauritania, as the scientific reports say there is overexploitation of the resource.
In addition, the Mauritanian Government highlighted its intention to reserve this fishery for its fishermen.
"Mauritania has made it clear its intention to reserve these cephalopod fisheries for national fleets," Damanaki said.
"Consequently, there is no surplus available for the moment, and it is not possible to negotiate fishing opportunities," she added.
The Commissioner explained that the scientific assessments performed by the Fishery Committee for the Eastern Central Atlantic (CPACO) indicate an over-capture of the different cephalopod populations in the Mauritanian fishery ground.
The European Commissioner’s response did not satisfy Socialist MEP José Blanco, who regretted the "weakness" with which Brussels is negotiating.
The parliamentarian reproached the EU executive for the "lack of commitment" to the Galician cephalopod fleet although Mauritania is allowing third countries to catch cephalopod vessels, EFE agency reports.
Damanaki also stressed that she will "actively work at a scientific level" with her Mauritanian counterpart to come up with "best management options" for the recovery of resources.
Meanwhile, the EU and Mauritania continue negotiating the renewal of the current fisheries agreement which expires in late 2014.
This protocol was approved in 2013 but with the rejection of Spain because the Mauritanian fishing ground was being closed to the EU cephalopod fleet, whose crew is mainly from Galicia and the Canary Islands, the agency Europa Press reported.
The current agreement authorizes 69 EU vessels -- from Spain, France, the Netherlands and Poland, among others -- to fish in Mauritanian waters in exchange for a financial contribution of EUR 70 million per year (EUR 67 million to compensate for the catches and the rest for the development of local industries), to which approximately EUR 40 million contributed by the ship owners as fees is added.
The agreement includes eight fishing resources: pelagic, demersal species and hake, seafood (shrimp, prawn, lobster and crab) and tuna.
Related articles:
- High supply and low prices boost octopus fishing ban
- Spain regrets exclusion of European fleet from Mauritania
By Analia Murias
editorial@seafood.media
www.seafood.media
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