The Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries, Water and Rural Development of the Junta de Andalucía, Ramón Fernández-Pacheco, has met this Thursday in the Parliament of Andalusia with representatives of the fishing sector, companies and port authorities in the region to analyze the imminent expiration of the fisheries protocol between the European Union and Mauritania, which ends next Saturday, 14 November, and "reinforce a common position in defense of the continuity of the activity."
At this meeting, Fernández-Pacheco reiterated the support of the Andalusian Executive for the sector and highlighted the need to join forces among administrations, ports, companies and fishermen in order to avoid the berthing of the fleet and the economic and labor impact that this would entail, according to what the Junta reported in a note.
"We are facing a situation that requires unity and collaboration. The Junta de Andalucía, the port authorities, the companies and the fishermen share the same goal: that our ships can continue fishing and that the economic activity and jobs that depend on this agreement are maintained," the minister said.
The Ministry of Agriculture recalled that the current protocol between the European Union and Mauritania ends at midnight on 14 November and that, in accordance with the official communication of the European Commission, from that moment Community vessels will lose authorization to fish in Mauritanian waters.
The end of the agreement affects 60 European ships, of which 25 are based in Andalusian ports, and could have an impact on around 500 workers, adding direct and indirect jobs.
During the meeting, representatives of Anamar calculated that the suspension of the protocol could result in losses of about 50 million euros.
According to the Junta, the harm would extend throughout the value chain, with special impact on the ports of Algeciras, Cádiz, Huelva and Seville, as well as on the activity of the fish market in Cádiz and on the marketing of fish in Huelva.
"We are not talking only about ships. We are talking about an activity that generates wealth and jobs in our ports and about hundreds of families that depend on it. That is why it is essential that all parties work in a coordinated way to guarantee its continuity," Fernández-Pacheco emphasized.
Unity of the sector and defense of the agreement
Representatives of the sector have explained that they have been trying for six months to secure the renewal of the protocol and have expressed "their confidence that the negotiations will make it possible to reach a solution that guarantees the continuity of fishing activity".
At the meeting, the strategic weight of this agreement for the European fleet and for food security on the continent was also highlighted.
Along these lines, the Andalusian minister has defended the importance of keeping a fleet subject to the rules of sustainability and control of the European Union operational, "avoiding that its exit from the fishing grounds could contribute to greater fishing pressure on the part of fleets from third countries".
"Europe cannot give up its fishing capacity or compromise its food sovereignty. We have a fleet that works under strict controls and sustainability criteria, and we must defend its continuity to guarantee responsible activity and the supply of our markets", he said.
To conclude, Fernández-Pacheco has called for the continuity of the fishing agreement between the European Union and Mauritania to take up a "priority" place on the agenda of the Parliament of Andalusia, the Government of Spain and the European institutions, and has reiterated the Junta's intention to collaborate with all the administrations involved to protect the sector.