September 8, 2015
The Secretary General of Fisheries of the Ministry of Agriculture, Food and Environment, Andrés Hermida, stressed today the Department’s commitment to sustainable fisheries management in the economic, environmental and social issues, and has described as “essential” control measures and inspection in the area of the tuna fisheries to ensure the sustainability and legality of catches.
While this regard has stated that at present tropical tunas are being properly managed and that most of their stocks do in the vicinity of the maximum sustainable yield, or have adequate so they can achieve in the short term measures, stressed that Spain will continue to work actively with the European Commission, so that these tuna fisheries, as relevant in this industry remain properly managed in the various regional fisheries organizations.
This has been said during the closing ceremony of the VII World Tuna Conference held today in Vigo, where he highlighted the involvement of Spain in the fight against illegal fishing. An engagement that leads to always ensure maximum effectiveness and rigor in controlling imports of fishery products from third countries entering the EU territory through our borders, of which an important part correspond to catch tuna .
Thus, stressed the Secretary General, we are entitled to demand repeatedly and in all forums, the same level of compliance to other EU Member States and third countries.
To ensure compliance with current regulations, Hermida recalled that the Ministry is working in recent years on two major airlines, such as adaptation and reinforcement of the Spanish legislation against illegal fishing, and in the investigation of suspected operators , gathering as much information as possible for the planning of actions as possible.
This task has converged in recent years, 2014 and the first half of 2015 in the so-called operations SPARROW and SPARROW DOS and unprecedented worldwide, and mark a before and after in the fight against illegal fishing.
Observatory traceability
In his speech Hermida also assessed the role of traceability Observatory, promoted by National theAssociation Manufacturers of Canned Fish (ANFACO), was presented today, and aims to ensure elcumplimiento of the different existing regulations on fisheries illegal, resource sustainability, respect for human rights and food quality and safety, by all operators and not just for the community.
An initiative concluded the Secretary General, which is intended to ensure fair competition between global operators operating in the market.
Source: Ministry of Agriculture of Spain
