MercoPress. South Atlantic News Agency

Spain expects to benefit from EC 2011 fishing quotas for hake

Vessels landings in Vigo, Spain’s fishing industry hub (Photo FIS)

For 2011, the European Commission (EC) intends to maintain fishing quotas for hake in the waters of the North (Gran Sol and North Sea) and increase catches by 15 per cent in waters of the South (from the Bay of Biscay to the Gulf of Cadiz, including the coasts of Galicia and Portugal).

Diplomatic sources told the Spanish government news agency EFE that the Executive shall submit its proposal for total allowable catches (TAC) on Thursday, 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 European Union (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 per cent) and the rest to France.

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

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

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

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 Seas, ICES. (FIS).