November 12, 2010

European Commission to sustain hake fishing quotas in the North

For 2011, the European Commission (EC) intends to maintain fishing quotas for hake in the waters of the North and increase catches by 15% in waters of the South.

North waters include Gran Sol and North Sea, whereas the South comprises of the Bay of Biscay to the Gulf of Cadiz, including the coasts of Galicia and Portugal.

Diplomatic sources said that the Executive shall submit its proposal for total allowable catches (TAC) on Thursday (Nov 11), but leave aside the debate on the quota for anchovy in the Bay of Biscay, which was established a few months ago.

The ambassadors of the 27 member states of the EU accepted the proposal in Brussels to increase the amount of anchovy in the Gulf of Biscay and set a TAC of 15,600 tonnes between July 2010 and June 2011.

Of that total, 14,040 tonnes will fall to Spain (90%) and the rest to France.

In connection with the capture of hake, in Cantabria, there are two types of fleets fishing: trawlers and melucera.

The six trawlers based in the port of Santander, fish in northern waters. The fleet tends to remain at sea for about 10 days before returning to port.

Meanwhile, hake vessels can measure up to 12, 14 and 15 metres long and long lines with hooks are used to capture the hake.

On the other hand, the Spanish fishing sector estimated that the EC expected to propose a cut in catches of lobster, sticking to recommendations made by experts from the International Council for the Exploration of the Sea (ICES).