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that oceans, along with coastal and marine resources, play an essential role in human wellbeing and social and economic development worldwide, bearing in mind that fish stocks must be maintained within biologically sustainable limits. On top of this, biodiverse marine sites require safeguarding to ensure sustainable long-term use of their natural resources. Spain started taking
actions about this issue long time ago. At this time, we have around 100,000 hectares of marine reserves. This is the framework of all our measures and actions must comply with. To help the fisheries and aquaculture sectors respond to these challenges, we have a very important tool which is the EMFF referred to earlier. With this fund we will be
co-financing actions to achieve a more sustainable seafood value chain, as well as research on new uses for fish products to avoid food losses. Another important pillar I would want to remark is our commitment to job creation. In EMFF priority 4, this is the main objective. We strongly believe that Community Led Local Development, properly managed, can lead to an increase
not only in employment, but as well in creating better jobs in fisheries and aquaculture dependent areas. The Spanish fisheries and aquaculture sector is strongly involved in achieving these goals, since it is properly organised and invests a significant proportion of net profits in investigation and implementation of new technologies.
Measures against unlawful catching and trading activities are a path of no return
Combating illegal fishing is a priority for the administration The General Directorate for Fisheries Management in the Spanish Ministry of Agriculture and Fisheries, Food and Environment is responsible among other things for inspection and control, structural, and market policies. Led by Carlos María Larrañaga, the directorate plays a key role in the fight against IUU fishing, the certification of fisheries as well as the organisation of the market. The Traceability Observatory was established to, among other things, promote a level playing field in the EU for canned tuna; ensure compliance with regulations governing this product; and to promote the sustainability of tuna and the enforcement of IUU regulations. Now that the observatory has existed for a year, what would you say are its most significant achievements? The Ministry of Agriculture and Fisheries, Food and Environment has since the outset supported the Traceability Observatory, as an integral part of its Steering Committee through the Secretary-General for Fisheries. The collaboration between the Spanish private sector and the national administration has been even more successful since the observatory was created as it is a platform to discuss best policies and actions to achieve our shared objectives. As well, it has promoted all these issues in www.eurofishmagazine.com
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different international forums, such as Infofish World Tuna Trade Conference & Exhibition in Bangkok this year. We believe international cooperation and dissemination of information about all problems and possible solutions are essential to achieve sustainability of fisheries, a level playing field in tuna sector and improvement of social conditions for workers. Earlier this year tuna fishing vessels belonging to the Opagac association were awarded a sustainable fishing certificate. What implications does this have for these vessels, and what repercussions will this have on other segments of the Spanish fleet? Will they also seek certification? Is there increasing demand in Spain for products that have been fished sustainably? We congratulate OPAGAC (the association for large tuna freezers) for helping develop the so
Carlos María Larrañaga, General Director for Fisheries Management, Ministry of Agriculture and Fisheries, Food and Environment, Spain
called Tuna from Responsible Fishing standard jointly with AENOR (The Spanish Association for Standardisation and Certification). It establishes the conditions for responsible fishing and certifies compliance with “best practices” in three areas: environmental, socioeconomic,
and control systems. This is the first step to achieve more ambitious objectives like Marine Stewardship Council (MSC) certification. At the moment, WWF and OPAGAC have completed the plan of action of its Fishery Improvement Project, which will be implemented over the next
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