Spain: Planas will defend the interests in Mediterranean fisheries amid tough negotiation

Published Dec 9, 2021

Tridge summary

The article outlines the current challenges and future negotiations surrounding Mediterranean and Pacific fisheries, as discussed by the Spanish Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food, Luis Planas. It highlights Spain's opposition to current catch reduction trends and the need for more selective fishing methods to balance biological and economic needs. The article also mentions ongoing discussions regarding shared fishing grounds with the UK and negotiations related to community waters in the Northeast Atlantic. Furthermore, it announces a new agreement that extends fishing rights for European Union vessels in the Western and Central Pacific until 2024, promoting sustainability through the mandatory use of non-entangling fish concentration devices.

Disclaimer: The above summary was generated by Tridge's proprietary AI model for informational purposes.

Original content

The minister has indicated that reductions in catches have already been applied and the "clear" position of Spain is that "it cannot continue in this way", as he pointed out this Thursday in an interview in Herrera in COPE. The sector, he remarked, knows that the position of the European Commission is "very firm" in this regard, but "it is also not convenient for Italy, France and Spain -countries concerned in the matter- to stand in front". "We must look for selectivity mechanisms with the scientific institutes, the Oceanographic Institute and the CSIC to try that the Mediterranean catches can be more selective" and maintain the "profitability" of the fishermen. For the minister, it is necessary to defend the "biological stock" but "also the fishermen stock and thus maintain that balance between the biological and the economic, which is so important." In addition, Planas maintains that "fishing mortality is a minor issue" and believes that "pollution, for example, is a much more ...

Source: PEefeagro