The annual meeting of NAFO maintains the stability of the quotas available to the Spanish fleet

The Ministry of Agriculture, Food and Environment of Spain, has participated in the 37th annual meeting of the Organization of the Northwest Atlantic Fisheries (NAFO), which was held in the Canadian city of Halifax from 21 to 25 September. There has been confirmed the good stocks and good management that has been done to them, and ensured the stability of the quotas available to the adjustments set forth therein española.Los fleet quotas, are based on all Where scientific advice of NAFO.

Fees for the Spanish fleet

Among the stocks of interest to the Spanish fleet, NAFO has decided to slightly increase the cod quota in Division 3M, which has increased by 1% from the overall quota of 13,795 tonnes to 13,931 tonnes. The first scientific report suggested a fall of 10% in 2016 and increased in 2017, but the final decision thanks to the good work of the Commission, with the support of the Spanish delegation, has been to maintain an average TAC two years, and to avoid the strong variation. In this way the fleet ensures stability in the TAC for two years until it turns to a full assessment in 2017.

The parties have also agreed to a specific meeting on this resource, to analyze the parameters governing this fishery and to thus ensure long-term sustainability. In the case of black halibut in Divisions 3KLMNO, it has applied the harvest control rule which is contained in the recovery plan and this year has been a slight decrease of 5%, which may be reversed in subsequent years if abundance indices back up.

The remaining stocks of interest to Spain maintain their quotas last year or slightly increased 7,000 tons in 3M redfish, representing a total increase of 500 tons, so the Spanish quota amounting to 251 tonnes, while the fleet can fish more quantity given the current access system), 20,000 tons in 3O redfish (of which 1,771 correspond to Spain), 7,000 tonnes in line (of which 3,403 are in Spain), and 1000 tonnes of white hake (of which 255 correspond to the Spanish fleet).

Note that for the latter two stocks the initial proposal of the scientific committee was to reduce the TAC to fit average catches which seriously harm the Spanish fleet, so the maintenance agreement odds are good news for the sector .

It has been unregulated for now alfonsino fishery management area 6 so that Spanish vessels fishing for this species usually will continue to do so without problems. Spain has defended the need to recognize the activities carried out by its vessels as essential to regulate the fishery requirement, which led the parties to be given more time to assess together the right of access and relevant regulatory measures.

Expansion of protected areas by NAFO

It has also decreed the closure to fishing on seamounts present in the Regulatory Area, to be important places for vulnerable marine ecosystems, thus expanding protected areas in NAFO, which leads to her being A regional organization leader in this area.

Much of the information on which these protective measures are based, has been obtained through research campaigns carried out by the Spanish Institute of Oceanography in previous years.

Source: Ministry of Agriculture, Food and Environment of Spain