Minister Explains Major Issues in Spanish Fishing Sector

In response to a question from Senator Miguel Fidalgo, Miguel Arias Cañete assured that the Government is working to ensure that the measures introduced by the Common Fisheries Policy will "allow the Spanish fishing sector to have a profitable future."

For this, the minister said that the government is committed to achieving a satisfactory agreement.

Mr Arias Cañete also responded to Senator Fidalgo on the status of international fisheries agreements affecting Spain. Mr Arias Cañete recalled that new protocols were signed for fishing with the Ivory Coast, Madagascar, Mozambique, Mauritius and Kiribati.

However, "the greatest of our efforts has been devoted to the renewal of the fisheries protocols with Morocco and Mauritania," he assured. Regarding the former, the minister has indicated that today, after several rounds of negotiations, we are at a very advanced stage of negotiation process. So far, progress has been consolidated in relation to the technical conditions that will facilitate better utilisation of the agreement.

Upon agreement with Mauritania, Mr Arias Cañete recalled that the Government voted against the adoption of the Protocol and is making every effort to draw attention to its negative effects. In particular, "since the government will continue to exert our influence to be banned in the European Parliament and of reaching approved, we will ask the European Commission to denounce the agreement for non-use."