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The catch registration system will be enhanced in Spain. (Photo: EC)
The EC and Spain agree to strengthen capture controls
 EUROPEAN UNION
Tuesday, August 07, 2012, 01:20 (GMT + 9)
The European Commission (EC) agreed with the Spanish government to implement an action plan so as to strengthen the registration system and fish catches monitoring in order to ensure compliance with the quotas allocated to this country.
This plan was designed jointly by the EU executive and the authorities in Spain after analyzing the current system for two years.
As the EC informed in a statement, this plan is one of the first of its kind that specifically applies to a Member State.
In this regard, Commissioner for Fisheries and Maritime Affairs of the European Union (EU), Maria Damanaki, stressed the importance of a "robust monitoring system" as a "prerequisite" for the fisheries resource sustainability.
"Improving the controls across the EU is one of my priorities," the European Commissioner highlighted.
Damanaki congratulated Spain "on its efforts" and expressed her trust that "other Member States will follow suit."
Currently, the data on catches are gathered by fishermen and analyzed by the fisheries authorities so as to monitor the compliance with the set fishing quotas.
It is expected that the action plan is helpful to "ensure that the data available for the controllers are complete, reliable and timely," to "strengthen the logistical support" and to make "more efficient" monitoring, the EC added.
The EU executive also said that the Spanish authorities “will work to create a compliance culture among fishermen."
He stressed that the stringency of quota monitoring will contribute to "more abundant fishery resources" and that all fishermen "have a greater and fairer access" to them.
By Analia Murias
editorial@fis.com
www.fis.com
Photo Courtesy of FIS Member  European Commission - Fisheries and Maritime Affairs
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