Minister of Fisheries Rosa Quintana says the Xunta will do its best for cancelling the pact. (Photo: Xunta)

Galicia and PSOE intend fisheries pact with Mauritania to be cancelled

SPAIN
Friday, August 03, 2012, 01:00 (GMT + 9)

The head of the Ministry of Rural and Marine Affairs of Xunta de Galicia, Rosa Quintana; and the secretary general of PsdeG-PSO, Pachi Vázquez have agreed on the need to cancel the fishing agreement signed between the European Union (EU) and Mauritania.

The entry into force of this agreement is detrimental to the Spanish fleet, especially those ships based in Marín (Galicia) that are engaged in fishing for cephalopods.

According to the agreement between the parties, 24 Spanish cephalopod vessels are excluded from the Mauritanian fishing grounds.

Following a meeting with the directors of the National Association of Cephalopod Producers (Anacef) and with representatives of the Shipowners' Association, Vázquez announced that the Socialists will encourage initiatives in all political forums where they are: Galician Parliament, House of Representatives and the European Parliament.

In Vázquez’ view, the bilateral fisheries pact is "bad and unprecedented," the newspaper La Voz de Galicia reported.

"We believe we should be together, with the resources we have we must defend Galicia," he claimed.

According to the Socialist leader, an agreement in the European Parliament (EP) is possible if it is supported by the Social Democrats and the Conservatives.

"No one thought of such a bad deal, and we must see how to reopen the negotiation process," added Vázquez.

Quintana assured that "the State Government and the regional administration will oppose this fisheries agreement."

In this regard, she said the head of the Ministry of Agriculture, Food and Environment (Magrama), Miguel Arias Cañete, will try to oppose at the Council of Fisheries Ministers of the EU.

And if this fails, Spanish MEPs "will vote against it in Parliament," Quintana added.

Anacef President, Francisco Freire, ensures that the exclusion of the Spanish vessels from Mauritanian waters will cause the dismissal of more than 200 workers from Spain and several others from the African country, the newspaper Faro de Vigo reported.

Vázquez acknowledged that the fishing agreement is "vital" to Galicia.

"The moment will arrive when explanations will be given about where they [the government authorities] were when this pact was signed, but now we can not create gaps or divisions," he emphasised.

Furthermore, he urged "all together" to contact the Commissioner of Fisheries of the EU, Maria Damanaki, to explain to her that "the issue of overexploitation is not based on scientific evidence and that the approaches raised are not correct," the agency Europe Press informed.

Related article:

- Cephalopod producers reject agreement with Mauritania ratification

By Analia Murias
[email protected]
www.seafood.media

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