The Fair Conxemar frozen seafood in Vigo, was the scene of celebration of the 20th Anniversary of the Code of Conduct for Responsible Fisheries of the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO). The organization was given by the Ministry of Agriculture, Food and Environment of Spain, together with FAO and Conxemar. The goal, to value the progress achieved in these two decades on responsible fishing.
The Minister of Agriculture, Food and Environment, Isabel García Tejerina, stressed that “the exercise of responsible fishing has been a priority for this government.” In his speech, García Tejerina has expressed his satisfaction at this commemorative event, which had the participation of responsible fishing on five continents. To the minister, is “to recognize that this Code is the result of a global consensus and that compliance is a guarantee for the future of fishing and fishermen.” For García Tejerina, “fishery resources are not infinite and sustainable fishing is the only way to ensure the future of our fishing sector.”
Sustainability Policy
According to the minister pointed out, the Government has launched a fisheries policy focused on sustainability and the development of coastal populations. It is, he added, “an important change that has been supported in the industry, which shows our strong will for Responsible Fisheries as a major element to ensure its viability in time”.
He also stressed how the government has given more value to fishing, improving marketing and consumer information, in addition to strengthening the fishing diversification to add value to this activity.
At the same time, García Tejerina noted that another priority for this government has been strict compliance control, both national and Community or international fisheries. Thus, it has made an effort to integrate and strengthen fish inspection systems and mechanisms have been driven control imports of fishery products. “All this in order to ensure the legal origin of fishery products entering our market,” he completed.
Fight against illegal fishing
To the minister, the defense of responsible fishing and combating illegal, unregulated and unreported (IUU) “is something indispensable.” To combat it, García Tejerina has referred to the control operations and fisheries SPARROW SPARROW 2, “two operations unprecedented in size and scope.”
García Tejerina has stated that these actions have been made possible by changes to the Law on State Marine Fisheries, which has reinforced the sanctioning capacity of defaults on illegal fishing.
Likewise, García Tejerina mentioned government support to the creation of the World Fishing Vessel Register, sponsored by FAO, to which Spain contributes technical and economical manner. These actions, added the minister, “have allowed Spain is today an undisputed leader in the control of illegal fishing at Community and global level.”
