The Govern defends Mediterranean fishing in the manifesto delivered to the European Commission

The document has been forwarded to the European Commissioner for Maritime Affairs and Fisheries, Costas Kadis, and the European Parliament.

The Director General of Fisheries, Antoni M. Grau, emphasized that "we cannot lower our guard and must continue to mobilize to convince the European Commission of the reality of fishing in the Western Mediterranean."

The Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries, and Natural Environment, along with the Generalitat of Catalonia and the Regional Council of Occitania, have signed a manifesto in defense of Mediterranean fishing and fishing communities. The document has been forwarded to the European Commissioner for Maritime Affairs and Fisheries, Costas Kadis, and the European Parliament. The Director General of Fisheries, Antoni M. Grau, explained, "We are aware of the crisis situation experienced this December. Therefore, we cannot lower our guard and must continue mobilized to convince the European Commission of the reality of fishing in the Western Mediterranean."

In this regard, Grau stressed that "it is crucial to amend the regulation that governs the Mediterranean fisheries management plan. The goal is that in the near future the Commission cannot again propose drastic reductions in fishing days for trawlers. Stability and security must be given to the fishermen's activity."

Thus, the manifesto, which consists of 23 points, defends trawl fishing as the economic engine of the fishing sector of the members of the Euroregion. The three regions assert that it is the pillar structuring the entire sector (fishermen, sellers, processing, and marketing). Specifically, one of the requests from the Govern refers to the need for European policies to become closer to the citizens, reducing simplification and considering enough flexibility to adapt to regional differences and fleet typologies. According to the three regions that signed the document, the results of current policies have shown that unique solutions cannot be applied to such a diverse sector. Thus, Grau stated, "The fishing fleet has decreased by more than 50% in the last fifteen years, and the industry is now on the brink of losing the minimum critical mass to preserve it as a major pillar of the blue economy."

Additionally, the document calls for an increase in the allocation of fishing days established for this year, the elimination of double regulation of fishing days, and limiting the capture of shrimp, as well as revising stock assessment methodologies with updated scientific information. The aim is to ensure a verdict consistent with the stock recovery situation, the transition towards environmental sustainability of the fishing sector, and the maintenance of a strong and viable sector.

Furthermore, they demand a reform of the Common Fisheries Policy (CFP) as soon as possible to ensure the social and economic sustainability of the fishing sector. They also call for consideration of the impact of climate change and pollution, specifically plastics, on populations and fishing activity, and recognition of the active role of the fishing sector as custodians of the sea, especially in the fight against marine litter.

The document, which the Govern is part of, in addition to being forwarded to the European Commissioner for Maritime Affairs and Fisheries, Costas Kadis, and the European Parliament, will also be sent to other regions of European Mediterranean, the value chain of the fishing sector, and the fishing communities.