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Fishers of the Cantabrian northeast are calling for fairer mackerel quotas among EU members. (Photo: Juan Murias)
Galician guilds call for mackerel TAC hike
SPAIN
Thursday, March 11, 2010, 16:50 (GMT + 9)
The Galician Fishing Guilds Federation called on all small family operations of the Cantabrian northwest to take part in a series of mobilisations and demand that the Spanish Government increase the total allowable catch (TAC) of mackerel.
Of the total TAC for the countries of
the European Union (EU), which tops 572,000 tonnes, 26,500 tonnes correspond to Spain.
For the Federation, it is a shame that the northern community fleets fish mackerel to produce fishmeal.
"[It’s] a waste of protein that today we cannot allow ourselves,” the entity stressed.
The Federation seeks for the distribution of quotas to be made per fishing mode and based on participation in the campaign, fishing possibilities, the job factor and the socio-labour conditions of the workers. It argues that the present distribution “clearly” favours trawler fishing “to the detriment” of the artisanal fleets.
The Galician purse seiner vessels are now moored in Santona (Cantabria), while leaders demand that the fishing quota of between 2,000 and 3,000 tonnes be extended.
Last week, the Ministry of Environment, and Rural and Marine Affairs (MARM) set the criteria for the distribution and management of the mackerel quota as well as the maximum daily and weekly limits for its capture and landing.
According to the new ministerial order, the objective of the initiative is for captures to be adjusted to the available quota for Spain.
The measure is applied to the mackerel caught in subsectors VIIIb, VIIIc and in zone IX. These subsectors include the national fishing-grounds of the Cantabrian-Northwest and the gulf of Cadiz, and non-Spanish Community waters of
the VIIIb subsector and
zone IX.
The paralysation of the activity by part of sailors is centred in different areas of Cantabria and the Basque Country, affecting about 300 workers and 130 boats, indicated the president of the Federation, Benito Gonzalez.
"We ask for more; in the countries of the north, they have 140,000 tonnes and we, 26,000,” he explained.
"We are going to continue requesting more time of Madrid, for although the boats are prepared for anchovy, there won’t be any until a month from now,” he added.
Related article:
- Mackerel distribution, catch quotas fixed
By Analia Murias
editorial@fis.com
www.fis.com
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