Balearics trawlers: EU weighs more fishing days
Balearic trawlers could get more days at sea after the European Commission said it is examining a change to the western Mediterranean fisheries plan. The move could stop the permitted fishing days for the whole trawler fleet being tied to the condition of a single species. Joan Simonet, the Balearic Islands’ agriculture, fisheries and environment minister, welcomed the prospect after Thursday’s meeting with European Commissioner for Fisheries and Oceans Costas Kadis.
Kadis met fisheries representatives from the Balearic Islands, Catalonia, the Valencian Community, Murcia and Andalusia. The five Mediterranean regions had jointly raised the issue with him in May.
A change, not a promise
The commissioner said parts of the current rules need correcting and that the Commission is considering a “more favourable and reasonable” proposal. But extra days at sea would not come automatically.
The detail must first appear in future proposals and then be negotiated by EU member states. Kadis also warned that changes requiring an amendment to the legal framework will take longer.
Simonet said there were grounds for hope, but urged caution. He said fishermen were tired after years of restrictions and were waiting for decisions that can secure the future of their work.
Fleet effort has fallen sharply
According to Simonet, fishing effort by the Balearic fleet has dropped by more than 50% over 10 years, following limits on fishing days and a smaller fleet. Landed catches are also nearly 40% below the average of the past 30 years.
Kadis said scientific indicators point to less overfishing and healthier stocks. Socioeconomic indicators, however, have not improved at the same pace.
Simonet also pressed for more local involvement in fisheries decisions, with island conditions and each area’s ecological, economic and social circumstances given greater weight. Kadis backed the co-management approach, in which the administration and fishing sector work together, and said it could receive support from European funds even without rule changes.
More than 40% of the Balearic Islands’ marine area is in the Natura 2000 network, according to the regional government. Around 67,000 hectares are marine fishing reserves.
Topics: Agriculture · Politics · Economy
Source: Europa Press / Mallorca.com