Buyers at the El Puerto fish market are asking the European Commission to extend the protocol with Mauritania before November 14, the date of its expiration.
The Association of Buyers of the El Puerto de Santa María Fish Market (Asodeco) has formally requested European Commissioner for Fisheries and Oceans, Costas Kadis, to promote the extension of the fishing agreement protocol between the EU and Mauritania, which is set to expire on November 14. The request was reported by Faro de Vigo, which includes the content of the letter.
The document, dated Friday, October 16, arrives less than a month before the pact expires. The entity expresses its concern about the consequences of a possible interruption of catches in Mauritanian waters, a resource of great importance for numerous Spanish fishing and marketing companies.
Asodeco warns that a lack of continuity could lead to supply difficulties, reduced availability of certain species, loss of competitiveness, and uncertainty in commercial relationships. It also alerts to possible effects on employment, both in extraction activities and in the marketing, transport, handling, and distribution of fish.
The association emphasizes that these catches are essential for the operation of the port fish market and for buyers, wholesalers, and distributors who need a regular supply to maintain their activities and meet their commercial commitments.
Therefore, it calls on the European Commission to act as a priority to ensure the extension of the protocol before its expiration. Failing that, it requests a temporary solution to avoid any interruption in fishing opportunities.
At the same time, Asodeco advocates for balancing economic activity with the protection of marine resources and European environmental objectives. It believes that regulated and sustainable fishing cooperation with Mauritania is necessary to provide stability to the sector.
You may also like
