Isabel Artime thanks the European Commission for "its willingness to work towards boosting the strategic role of the fishing sector, through job creation and enhancing its competitiveness."
Ministerio de Agricultura, Pesca y Alimentación
The Secretary General for Fisheries in Spain, Isabel Artime, has welcomed the European Commission's intention to strengthen the European Union's (EU) international leadership on issues such as combating illegal, unreported, and unregulated (IUU) fishing, and developing a new generation of agreements with third countries.
Artime inaugurated last week the meeting of the Executive Committee of the Long Distance Fleet Advisory Council (LDAC) and highlighted the new approach adopted by the European Commission, which will promote job creation in the sector and enhance its competitiveness.
Additionally, the Secretary highlighted the importance of fishing activities in achieving EU food sovereignty and the role of fishermen as providers of healthy food and guardians of ocean protection.
Regarding Total Allowable Catches (TACs) and fishing quotas, she expressed support for respecting the principles of the Common Fisheries Policy, which are based on the three dimensions of sustainability: environmental, economic, and social.
Finally, she emphasized Spain's commitment to the "Blue Transformation," as outlined in the latest FAO SOFIA report. Spain will provide economic and institutional support to the FAO's Blue Ports initiative to promote technical training and knowledge in fishing ports in various regions.
The European Commission released in 2023 a providing an overview of sustainability in EU fisheries based on the latest available data. Based on independent scientific assessments, the sustainability of EU fisheries is improving, with fewer stocks overfished.
However, significant challenges remain across the EU territory with the biggest risks posed by climate change, fish mortality, illegal fishing and disruption to supply chains due to the war in Ukraine.