Source: Spanish News
For several weeks now, the almadraba trap net tuna fishery of Cadiz has been calling for action against the limited catch quotas for the 2011 season.
The 2011 quota allocated to this ancient tuna fishing tradition is 630 metric tons, which represents 37 tons less than in 2010.
The almadraba sector of Cadiz held a meeting with the head of the Ministry of Environment and Rural and Marine Affairs (MARM), Rosa Aguilar, to request an increase to their assigned quota.
In an earlier request to MARM, in November, Cadiz solicited an amendment to the allocation of national quota for bluefin tuna, taking into account ecological and social sustainability of each fishing method, with the objective of obtaining a higher share of the quota for the almadraba trap net tuna fishing fleet.
Cadiz Fishermen have expressed their concern on how these limitations could affect their industry, which last year reached Eur 7.3 million. They contend that, while the quota is below the limits of viability (around 1,100 tons), it is intended to aid the sector in order to ensure its continuity and avoid losing “this ancient fishing gear, which is part of the culture of this provinceâ€.
Ministry sources have ruled out the possibility of changing the quota share internally, according to El Pais. The total tuna fishing quota for Spain is 2.410 tons. This is to avoid conflicts with other Spanish communities, such as Cataluña. Therefore, the solution that is now being considered is trying to negotiate with other Member States to cede part of their quota, which has already been done in previous years and is known as working capital.
Aguilar is already negotiating with Portugal and France.
According to Europea Sur, however, representatives of the almadraba fleet believe that France is behind the campaigns against consumption of bluefin tuna.
Large supermarket chains like Carrefour, Casino, Alcampo, Eroski, Delhaize and Ikea are leading promotional activities in which they commit to not sell bluefin tuna until the fisheries recover.
But the chairman of an almadraba company, Manuel Gonzalez, recalled that the French fleet was sanctioned with a reduction in the quota of around 1,500 tons over the previous season due to overexploitation.
Therefore, they suspect that it is the actions of the big chains of French origin, which put “a protective mask over the environment and ecology with a false front to consumers,†said Gonzalez.
For the representative of the almadraba fleet, they seek to “undermine the rest of the fleets that have actually ruled scrupulously and not complied with the appropriate agenciesâ€.