Environmental analysis, economic study and social impact. It is the tripod upon which all measures originating from the European Commission must rely, in order to maintain a criterion of proportionality and always be subject to scientific rigor. Despite widespread opposition and ambition to develop the Fisheries Commission’s roadmap against bottom fishing gear, the department headed by Virginijus Sinkevicius ignored all these pillars. Implementing regulation 2022/1614, which prepares the pier for a large part of the Galician fishing industry, It is not based on technical, economic or social impact criteria.; decided to initiate this regulation despite not having the information to support it, as recognized by its report Brussels will set the machines in motion.
In an area of more than 16,400 square kilometers from the Bay of Cádiz to the Gran Sol along the entire Cantabrian coast, the veto on bottom fishing will come into effect on 9 October. Without any scientific mesh. “There is a high degree of consistency in the quality of data available in the Celtic Seas ecoregion,” the ICES report says.International Marine Exploration Council, Spanish ICES). “The same cannot be said for the Bay of Biscay and Iberian Peninsula ecoregion, which did not include several known VME data sources”. VME are vulnerable marine ecosystems (sensitive marine ecosystems), existing and “likely to exist”.
this The enormous ignorance underlying the application of this standard The most impacted by the new arrangement is evident in the case of fixed lower gears such as longlines, traps or pots. And ICES itself sums it up in its 248-page advisory report: “While it is possible to quantify the effects of mobile hardware in contact with the bottom, [en referencia al arrastre, por ejemplo]There are still problems with fixed gear boats”. More, states that they cannot “reliably” assess the extent to which their activities represent an “effort” for the ecosystem.. And scientists sentence: “Benthic footprint [en el fondo del mar] and the effects of these arts are largely unknown.” But in the same way, and within seventeen days, the “execution law” will come into force, supported by Sinkevicius and promoted by Charlina Vitcheva number two. With a potential impact of a thousand fishing boats belonging to Galicia, including Gran Sol longlines, bonito fishermen, coastal fishing boats or small cogs. We have a little over fifty days left to take legal action against it.
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Lack of scientific knowledge is not the only thing revealed by the ICES report, an expert body Brussels has turned to to reduce fisheries activities. He also admits that The socioeconomic impact of some of these characteristics has not been evaluated.Against this, the fleet aims to form a common front with Ireland, France and Portugal. “It is difficult to determine a preference as the socioeconomic implications are unknown. Some fishery products go to certain places on a regular basis, and although the effort is not very high, it can be important to them”, explains the text of FARO DE VIGO, a newspaper belonging to the same group as this media. . “VME (Sensitive Marine Ecosystems, sensitive marine ecosystems) conditions: data missing. This can be improved by training the observers.”
In these areas exceeding 16,000 square kilometers, closures affect vessels equipped with bottom trawlers, dredgers, bottom gillnets, bottom longlines, pots and traps. Will traps be allowed to open in these areas if the depth is not reached to 400 meters? There is no answer in the legal crap posted this Monday by Ursula Von der Leyen. On the one hand, in Article 2 of the said regulation, it is stated that the veto on hunting will be activated “with regard to its application to fishing activities with bottom gear at a depth of more than 400 meters”. However, right after that, he determined that “hunting with lower gears will be prohibited in all areas on the list”, whose coordinates are stated below, out of nearly 140 pages.
State Advocacy analyzes the text if it formulates an appeal to the EC
According to Fisheries Secretary-General Alicia, the Spanish Government is “legally” examining the possibility of appealing the European Commission’s (EC) decision to close 87 regions of the northeast Atlantic to bottom fishing, but has yet to make a decision, Villauriz said. The Secretary General of Fisheries pointed out that yesterday the Ministries of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food and the legal services of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs were considering the possibility of appealing the decision, but that a review would be made if an appeal was made before that. “made with all warranties”. Villauriz reiterated the Spanish Government’s commitment to the industry, which will take the matter to the Agriculture and Fisheries Ministerial Council in Brussels next Monday, and “urged the EC to take action as soon as possible and fix the areas”, which has now been declared closed.
In addition, the International Maritime Exploration Council (CIEM or ICES, abbreviated in English) – a scientific body that advises the EC – should submit a review and a report in November that may contribute “less than that.” Harmful “arrangement” for the fleet, according to Minister number two Luis Planas. But he warned that the decision will come into effect on October 9th and therefore the fleet must abide by the law.
The meeting was attended by shipowners, fraternities and representatives of peninsular autonomy of the Atlantic (Andalusia, Galicia, Cantabria, Asturias and the Basque Country). On behalf of the Cepesca shipowners’ association, Iván López stressed that the meeting “reaffirms” the unity between the fishing industry and the affected governments, while rejecting the EC resolution unanimously. “We’re all in this together”.
Formoso asks Madrid to legal battle against regulation
PSdeG Secretary General Valentín González Formoso called on the Government yesterday to defend the Galician fisheries sector in Brussels against the regulation vetoing bottom fishing in 87 fisheries. “We urge the Government of Spain to fight legally and politically to ensure that the application of this regulation is suspended,” he said during his visit to Vigo.