Luis Planas, Spanish Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food.
Photo: Ministerio de Agricultura, Pesca y Alimentación, España.
Spain's Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food, Luis Planas, has described the European Commission's proposal to slash fishing opportunities in the Mediterranean Sea during 2025 by 79% as "totally unacceptable".
Speaking from Brussels, where he is participating in the EU Council of Ministers of Agriculture and Fisheries on 9 and 10 December, Planas described the proposal as "radical" and "unfocused", and said it "makes fishing activity in the Mediterranean economically unviable," according to Spanish media reports.
The Council is meeting to discuss the Total Allowable Catches (TAC) and fishing quotas for some species in the Atlantic Ocean during 2025 and 2026, and for 2025 in the Mediterranean Sea and the Black Sea.
The European Commission's proposal for the Mediterranean would mean an unprecedented reduction in the number of fishing days, from 130 in 2024 to 27 for the whole of next year.
According to a press statement from the Spanish Government, "the minister believes that, if this initiative is carried out, it would seriously jeopardise the viability of the Mediterranean fleet, which has already made significant efforts to adapt in recent years".
"In order to counter this proposal, Spain has the support of France and Italy, with whom it signed a joint declaration in November to reject this proposal in the terms set out and to request the European Commission to extend the already ambitious fisheries management measures in the Mediterranean Sea until 2025," the statement read.
Planas said he hoped to find "a positive and constructive solution" within the next 48 hours, and will insist on social and economic impact being taken into account in the decision on fishing opportunities, in addition to scientific recommendations.
