Planas acknowledges that the European veto on bottom fishing may have "some impact" on prices

MADRID, 7 Oct. (EUROPA PRESS) -

The Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food, Luis Planas, acknowledged this Friday that the European veto on trawling, which Spain will appeal to the Court of Justice of the European Union, may have "some impact" on prices, if Well, he has stated that it will be necessary to "see how things happen" in relation to volumes and catches.

"We are going to try to find solutions, it is not easy, we are in a very complicated moment," Planas said in statements to TVE collected by Europa Press, in which he criticized the "inopportuneness" of the measure adopted by Brussels, because it adds uncertainty to the sector in "a bad moment".

Planas has confirmed that Spain will appeal to the Court of Justice of the European Union the veto imposed on bottom fishing, despite the reduction from 87 to 41 prohibited fishing areas, confirmed in writing, according to the minister, by the European Commission .

"We are going to make that claim before the Court of Justice of the European Union, but I think that what is happening these days is showing it, it is a claim that has an immensely complex technical basis and, on the other hand, I want to remind you that European jurisprudence in The matter of suspending the application of an executive regulation of the Commission is absolutely minimal", explained Planas, who acknowledged that "this issue is going to take a long time".

"We have achieved a first advance due to the contradiction that existed in the regulations between the text and the cartography to ensure that, effectively, the Commission has confirmed it to us in writing, not to apply the restriction up to 400 meters", he pointed out.

"We are going to go to the Court of Justice with a good claim to try to achieve an effective result of annulment and at the same time we are in permanent conversations with the European Commission to try to limit and qualify the application of this new executive regulation as much as possible," he said. highlighted.

The Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food has explained that of the 87 polygons identified in the annexes of the European Commission regulation, in 76 there is a presence of the Spanish fishing fleet of different gears and in 41 of them, with a depth less than 400 meters, which establishes the norm, will not affect the Spanish fleet, which will be harmed by the decision of Brussels in 35.

In this sense, Planas explained that the ships affected by the veto will have to reposition themselves in the 41 zones in which the fleet can continue to work normally. "They have to reposition themselves, that obviously affects other segments of the fleet and is the element of concern, there are no rules there, it is normally an arrangement between the professionals in the sector to get the most out of it and not bother others," he said. pointed out Planas, who has recognized that the situation "is not easy".

"This regulation causes a change in the sector, hence the concern that I fully share and that we have to be looking for solutions in a practical way", he added.

"Four Member States are affected, Ireland, France, Spain and Portugal, and the application of fisheries control is national, on a community basis. Therefore, what we achieved from the European Commission is very important, which confirms in writing what We already understood that it was like that, up to 400 meters excluded, but that it appeared in a contradictory way", he explained.

"We are united in the defense of our fishermen, we have to defend that our seas and oceans are protected and the Government of Spain absolutely agrees with this, but we have to find a balance between that protection and the protection of our fleet", has underlined.