Several NGOs have highlighted Spain’s steps to fight illegal fishing in the Antarctic after the announcement of the Ministry of Agriculture, Food and Environment (MAGRAMA) on the start of disciplinary proceedings against several Spanish companies and crew involved in pirate fishing.
The sanctioning process marks the resolution period of Operation Sparrow, launched by MAGRAMA in March.
Greenpeace and Sea Shepherd, among other groups, expressed their satisfaction at the news and hope that the Spanish Government releases data about the companies and vessels involved, the newspaper La Voz de Galicia reported.
These NGOs estimate that the sanctions on the companies involved, which they link with the firm Vidal Armadores, from Ribeira, and administrators would come to about EUR 11.5 million.
MAGRAMA reported the detection of 19 very serious offenses, which are individually punishable through fines of up to EUR 600,000 and penalties such as fishing activity disqualification.
Several conservation groups have for years tried to curb pirate fishing vessels fishing for toothfish (Dissostichus eleginoides) in Antarctic waters without a license, without respecting closed areas and using illegal means to catch the specimens.
Greenpeace, in particular, has for a while researched the company Vidal Armadores and its connections with illegal fishing, and in 2009 it reported the situation to the Court.
The organization recalls that three of the vessels mentioned by MAGRAMA — Songhua, Kunlun and Yongding –, allegedly linked to the Galician company, were persecuted and accused by New Zealand last January for capturing toothfish in Antarctic waters without licenses to do so.
The other vessel mentioned by the Spanish Government is the cargo ship Tiantai.
Greenpeace stresses that since 1999, the boats belonging to Vidal Armadores have been arrested at least eleven times and received seven convictions, and three of its boats were confiscated and fined more than EUR 3 million. But despite all that, the company received about EUR 16 million in subsidies from the Spanish authorities.
“It’s a good first step to combat pirate fishing. For a long time, we have been claiming efforts against this scourge and the genuine commitment of the Ministry has to be consistent in this regard,” declared Celia Ojeda, head of the Greenpeace Oceans campaign in Spain.
Sea Shepherd also highlights the relevance of the Spanish action and believes that Vidal Armadores could be subjected to a historic fine, which is unprecedented among those imposed by the European Union (EU).
It must be recalled that in February, the Yongding and Kunlun were intercepted by Sam Simon, belonging to Sea Shepherd, in the waters of Australia, and after a chase that lasted for weeks it was possible to arrest the Kunlun in Thai waters.
Meanwhile, the Yongding and the Songhua were arrested by the authorities of Cape Verde.
Greenpeace now requests the Spanish Government to release the details of the research they have undertaken, “as exposing companies and ships involved in illegal fishing operations can mean one of the most important actions against pirate fishing worldwide”.
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