The General Secretariat for Fisheries held a meeting this Monday with representatives of the National Federation of Fishermen's Guilds (FNCP) and the Spanish Confederation of Fisheries to analyze the problems detected in the application of Fisheries Control Regulations, which came into effect on January 10th.
The meeting served to address the operational difficulties that EU regulations are creating in the daily activity of the fleet, as well as to study possible solutions that allow compliance to be guaranteed without undermining control efforts.
Agreement to implement flexibilities without relinquishing control
With the aim of ensuring a effective compliance that is compatible with the realities of the sector, the Ministry of AgricultureFishing and Food and fishing organizations have reached an agreement to introduce certain flexibilities in the application of the regulation.
These measures seek to avoid penalties arising from formal errors or technical difficulties, while maintaining the traceability and control of catches required by European regulations.
Errors in catches under 50 kilos will not be an infraction
Regarding the obligation to record all catches by species from zero kilograms when they are less than 50 kilograms, the General Secretariat for Fisheries will urgently adopt a resolution. This resolution will establish that Errors or omissions in estimating quantities in the logbook will not constitute an infringementprovided that the landing declaration correctly reflects the actual quantities per species.
Furthermore, the General Secretariat for Fisheries will provide specific instructions to the inspection and control services to ensure a uniform application of this measure.
Spain will request regulatory changes from the European Commission
The Spanish government will bring this issue to the attention of the European Commission and formally request a modification of the control regulations so that errors in entries of less than 50 kilos per species are not considered non-compliance.
While this possible reform is being processed, Spain will ask the Commission to amend Annex IV of Regulation 2023/2842 by means of a delegated act, in order to correct these errors cannot be classified as a serious offense.
The Executive will also present these issues in the so-called "miscellaneous" of the Council of Ministers of Agriculture and Fisheries of the European Union, which will be held on January 26 in Brussels.
Flexibility in recording catches per fishing operation
Regarding the obligation to record catches for each fishing operation, the resolution will clarify that this requirement will be considered fulfilled when the information is provided. at least once a day, before entering port or at the place of disembarkation.
This interpretation affects article 14.2.g) of the regulation and aims to reduce the administrative burden without compromising the control of the activity.
Changes to the pre-port entry notification
Regarding prior notification, the General Secretariat for Fisheries will establish that this must be done when the vessel sets course for port, which will allow the deadline to be less than the four hours generally expected in the regulations.
Excluded from this flexibility are those cases in which there are specific notification deadlines or vessels that are subject to the obligation of prior notice.
During the meeting, the fishing organizations expressed their collaboration commitment to implement the agreed measures. Furthermore, both parties have agreed to hold another meeting to assess the implementation of these decisions and their impact on the sector's activity.
