The Motril trawling fleet is dealing with a drastic minimize for 2026, imposed by the EU, which limits fishing to a mere ten days a years throughout subsequent 12 months.
Dismayed is an understatement as a result of they’ve frequently made sacrifices, enjoying by the EC guidelines which have allowed the fishing grounds to get well. Yet, now this…
The Head of the Motril Fishermen’s Association, Ignacio López, remarked, “I don’t perceive how they will suggest one thing like this. We’ve been making sacrifices for years to get well our fishing grounds, and now they’re going to remove the times we’ve gained. It’s institutional terrorism, an unacceptable minimize.”
According to the affiliation Chairman or Head Skipper, since 2020 the trawling fleet has strictly complied with the measures imposed by Europe by decreasing fishing days, adapting the vessels to the rules, and respecting the designated relaxation days. “We’ve allowed the fishing grounds to get well, we’ve invested in expertise that makes use of much less gas and is extra respectful of the seabed.” “And but, we’re confronted with this proposal,” he provides.
In 2019, a multi-year administration plan for demersal fish shares within the western Mediterranean was agreed upon, establishing a progressive discount in fishing days between 2020 and 2024 and implementing selectivity measures for vessels.
As a fast rationalization, demersal fish, also called groundfish, dwell and feed on or close to the underside of sea in coastal waters, close to the continental shelf, or on its slope or alongside its rise. In different phrases, they’re backside feeders versus pelagic fish, which dwell and feed away from the underside within the open water column.
In 2024, Spain, France, and Italy signed a joint declaration requesting a moratorium on the plan and halting the EC’s harshest proposals, arguing that fishing grounds have been recovering and that the restrictions might hurt the fleets.
Last 12 months, fishermen managed to attain a median of 130 fishing days after prolonged negotiations with the EC, which initially proposed a mere 27 days. Now, the proposal for 2026 goals to scale back that determine to simply 10 days, which might make it unimaginable for vessels to fish profitably.
“It’s not simply an financial problem; it’s a matter of survival for the households who rely upon fishing,” stated Ignacio López, including, “Many fishermen could be left with out revenue and with out a future.”
This scenario has generated frustration and concern alongside your entire Costa Tropical, the place many fishermen are already planning to search for different jobs to assist their households.
The Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food, Luis Planas, assures that he’ll combat to extend fishing days within the negotiations on the subsequent Fisheries Council assembly, to be held subsequent week in Brussels.
Strangely… affected fishermen aren’t glad with simply guarantees of taking motion
This 12 months, the Government reached an settlement with regional governments with on the Mediterranean shoreline permitting fishermen to increase their fishing days in the event that they modernised their nets and adopted applied sciences like flying doorways, which cut back the environmental impression of trawling. However, the newest European proposals appear to disregard these advances and sacrifices.
“They’re asking us to spend money on 30-year-old boats, in expertise that prices 1000’s of euros, with out figuring out if we’ll be capable to fish the required days to make it worthwhile. Who will wish to work in fishing beneath these situations?” reasoned López.
Editorial remark: while you possibly can’t assist feeling sympathy for the fishing trade, the reality is that they over-fished their very own breeding floor then set about over-fishing all people else’s. They wished entry to Moroccan fishing grounds and pushed the EC to strike cope with the Moroccan Government however though the latter agreed, it was on the worth of flooding the EU with their vegetable produce, primarily tomatoes. The Result? You get Motril vega farmers ransacking lorries carrying Moroccan tomatoes as they go away Motril Port, demanding a cease to the imports. The ethical of the story is, you possibly can’t please all people… typically, not even ‘anyone.’
(News: Motril, Costa Tropical, Granada, Andalucia – Source/Photo: Ideal/MJ Arrebola)
Keywords: Fishing Fleet, Trawlers, EC, Fishing Restrictions, Motril Port
information, andalucia, granada, costa tropical, motril, fishing fleet, trawlers, ec, fishing restrictions, motril port
