Source: Fish Information and Services
In Spain the council of the Basque Country approved an additional appropriation for 2012 of Euro 1,396,500 to finance the private security of the crew members of the freezer tuna fishing vessels in the Indian Ocean.
The ship owners of these vessels presented a total budget of Euro 5.59 million for shipment costs of the private security guards this year.
The Department of Environment, Territory Planning, Agriculture and Fisheries renewed the agreement by which the local Executive committed to paying 25 percent of the cost of security measures.
The fishing fleet operating in the Indian Ocean consists of ten tuna vessels and three auxiliary ships, the agency Europa Press reported.
The approval of this loan is the “commitment†adopted by the Basque Government before the hijacking experienced by Alakrana tuna boat.
This vessel was released in late 2009 after paying a ransom of USD 4 million.