Spanish Welcome Fisheries Policy Changes

The policy will also incorporated sustainable aquaculture within the new Common Fisheries Policy."

Carlos Dominguez said the EU regulatory framework, which is currently undergoing deep revision, received a major boost at the meeting of the Council of Fisheries Ministers EU of 12 and 13 June

He said teh meeting adopted a general approach leading to further discussion, "which is a clear improvement for Spain on the initial proposals of the European Commission".

The goal of achieving maximum sustainable yields by 2015 will take place wherever possible and will be in place by at least 2020.

He added that the targets of maximum sustainable yields should be done taking into account the management of the different species.

He said the EU Council had said it was necessary to improve the working of regional fisheries organisations, to help achieve the objective of MSY for fish populations that are being exploited both by EU fisheries vessals and those of third countries.

On the discard policy, Dominguez noted that the Commission will need additional work from the Member States concerned to develop solutions that could produce the effective elimination of discards.

He added: "We have been given flexible mechanisms, more consistent with what Spain had been defending, among them the possibility of a widespread increase in quotas, more possibilities of exchange of shares with other EEMM and other non-EU countries belonging to regional fisheries organisations, as well as the goal of introducing compulsory landings of all catches in stages and fisheries. "

In terms of transferable fishing concessions, Dominguez has argued that the agreement is a voluntary system.

On the other hand, the Secretary General mentioned the external dimension of the CFP reform, "where we have been asking the Commission for a more decisive policy action and commitment, both in regional fisheries organisations, such as bilateral agreements EU member countries."

With respect to the adjustment of the fleet to available resources, Dominguez said that there has been a decreasing number of ships by about 20 per cent over the past five years, a reduction that was accompanied by highly significant reductions in fishing capacity.