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Algarve MPs slam new fishing agreement as Spain always cheats

fishingNorthSeaJosé Carlos Barros and Cristóvão Norte, Algarve Social Democratic Party MPs, have questioned the government on its approval of the Guadiana River and Minho River Fisheries Agreements, (Acordos Fronteiriços de Pesca do Rio Guadiana e do Rio Minho) which will be in force for at least five years.

According to the MPs, "it is unacceptable that the process has not been the subject of public debate and after a thorough evaluation of the previous agreement, taking into account the known and widespread criticism of fishermen and industry associations of the activities of the Spanish fishing fleet in Portuguese waters."

These criticisms stem from the clear view that, "the conditions laid down in the agreements are more favorable to Spanish fishermen than to Portuguese fishermen, since, in view of the over-exploitation and less abundance of resources in the neighboring areas, our fishermen do not make full use of the licences under the agreements."

Barros and Norte also point out that, "it is the current practice of Spanish fishermen and shipowners to disregard the rules, namely those covering fishing hours, daily catch limits, minimum catch sizes for some species and the limits of fishing areas," which leave Portuguese fishermen and shipowners at a competitive disadvantage.

At the same time, the MPs point out that the lack of monitoring by the Portuguese authorities are well known and which creates, "a climate of apparent impunity and frequent situations of conflict."

"It is within this framework of widespread criticism that the Government has just approved a new agreement with Spain, without public debate and, as far as is known, without assessing the conditions of compliance with the previous agreement ... this decision - already incomprehensible in the face of the described framework - it is all the more serious if we take into account that the previous conditions, both in terms of the fishing zones and the number of licences allocated, are maintained in full," the MPs stated last Friday12th April.

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Comments  

+1 #4 Peter Booker 2019-04-16 08:44
Well, these two are elected to represent the interests of the Algarve. Are they supported by the deputies who represent the Minho? If what they are saying is more than mere hearsay, you would expect vocal support from the other end of the country.

I suspect that these opposition deputies (who cannot influence government policy) are angling for votes in the upcoming election.
+4 #3 Darcy 2019-04-15 17:26
Correct chip ... this is not the uk .... thankfully.
-1 #2 Daphne 2019-04-15 15:14
If Spain is anything like Portugal,then racist hate crime does not exist. In Spain there will only be Spanish for administrative purposes as there are only Portuguese in Portugal. But Portugal is ahead of the game with rolling back Womens Rights as now being pushed by the new rightwing Vox Party in Spain. Here in Portugal these Rights cannot be rolled back as, like Race and Animal Rights and so much else, they were never rolled out!
+1 #1 Chip 2019-04-15 13:01
Good job this is not the UK.

Stating that "Spain always cheats" would be a racist hate crime punishable by years of imprisonment. The BBC would be having a field day.

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