Spain's Ministry for the Environment and Rural and Marine Affairs (MARM) has established controls over vessels from third-party countries to prevent, deter and eliminate illegal, unreported and unregulated fishing (IUU).
According to the Ministerial Order 2077/2010, published on Saturday in the Official State Bulletin (BOE), the government aims to control access to Spanish ports for fishing vessels from third-party countries, as well as any unloading and transfer operations that they perform; the control of fishery products caught by fishing vessels from third-party countries, and re-export from Spanish territories; and the exporting of fish caught by fishing vessels from Spain.
The new legislation includes any ship, regardless of size, used or intended for the commercial exploitation of fish.
Vessels from third-parties only have access to port services and make landings or transshipments at ports designated by the central government.
Also, fishery products covered by the Ministerial Order "can only be landed or introduced into Spanish territory through places approved by the government."
To access ports, vessels must be approved by competent port authorities, informs the report made by the General Secretariat of the Sea, under MARM.
In the report, verification of requested documentation and proof that the vessel is not part of any IUU fishing vessel wanted list will be considered.
In addition, vessels will require a license to capture, in order to ensure the traceability of fishery products and to prove that it respects the laws, regulations and international management and conservation measures.
Analia Murias (Fishing Information and Services)
www.fis.com
