There was no turnback. Despite a two-day reduction in the initial offer, The European Union (EU) has finally approved a new ten-day cutoff for trawler fishing in the Mediterranean.. The measure, which Spain voted against, left the industry of the province of Alicante in an extreme situation, with half the fleet sustained in the air and on land. Subsidy application by fishermen for scrapping boats.
EU Fisheries Ministers finalized on Tuesday the agreement on the total catch allowed for next year in community waters. After the negotiations, the number of days to go fishing in the Mediterranean increased to 7% from the originally planned 7.5%, while the compensation increased from 3% to 3.5%. This is, in practice, assumes that the proposed twelve-day discount is finally left in ten days.a small improvement, which in any case is not enough for the sector or Minister Luis Planas, who has positioned himself against the measure.
The head of the Spanish ministry justifies this position, believing that reducing fishing days is not a viable means of sustainability, but will have to resort to selectivity in equipment. nets that more appropriately distinguish fish by size.
The reality is that the decision taken in Brussels was a serious setback for the Alicante sector, where 130 trawlers were able to go fishing on only 155 of the 240 fishing days they enjoyed just three years ago. Juan Mulet, secretary of the Provincial Brethren Federation,there is no job that supports working only half a year. At present, the future of half the fleet is at great stake, as this problem is exacerbated by the rise in fuel costs and Social Security, among others. Only family businesses will survive.”
The situation is so complicated a significant number of fishermen will be willing to scrap their boats. If the European Marine Fisheries and Agriculture Fund (Fempa) subsidizes this process. “Nobody – points out Mulet – wants to shut down a business, but in the end, there is no other way out when it becomes unprofitable. So it’s better to get something in return than having nothing left”.
Moisés Herades, senior boss of the Brotherhood of Xàbia, puts it in similar terms: “The new cut has left us all deadly. We will try to get through this last part of the year as best we can and see what we can do next and if anyone thinks of scrapping it”.
And that possibility is getting closer and closer, as Fempa itself is already seeking relief authorization for this purpose. This is acknowledged by Roger Llanes, the regional secretary for Agriculture and Fisheries, but that it is “a measure we do not share because the economic and social framework that fisheries create will be lost. The problem is that the European Union is putting us in this situation with its decisions.” After Llanes has shown his rejection of the new cut, he admits there is little room for maneuver, but he also argues that: we will work so that fishermen get more economic compensation.
Reduction in red shrimp catch remains at 5%
The 7.5% reduction in red shrimp catches initially predicted by the European Union for next year ended at 5%. A reduction that would logically result in less economic loss for these shelled vessels, but which in any case will continue to have a significant impact, It is the species that provides the greatest benefit for fishermen. according to the market price. The white shrimp had more of the Brussels trimmings, and in this case it was highly appreciated by consumers as it remained at 7%.
Mediterranean at worst in deal
The Mediterranean troll suffers the most from the agreement reached by the ministers in Brussels for the coming year. In the Atlantic example, fishermen will be able to catch 9,953 tons, the best in eight years. The mackerel and mackerel quota could also be increased by 20%, while the Bay of Biscay and Cantabrian Sea whiting, for which the EU has offered a 10% discount, remained intact. The same will happen in the base case.