– COURTESY OF CABILDO DE TENERIFE – Archive
LAS PALMAS DE GRAN CANARIA 20 Jun. (EUROPA PRESS) –
Organisations representing Canary Island artisanal fishermen have expressed their gratitude this Saturday to the political groups in the Canary Parliament for their unanimous support of the Non-Legislative Proposition (PNL) aimed at adapting the European Union’s Control Regulation to the realities of the sector.
In a joint statement, Anarme, Miracanarias, the Pescatobal Cooperative, the Pescarestinga Cooperative, the Platform for the Canary Sea, and the National Maritime Union expressed their satisfaction following the debate held this week in the regional assembly.
The associations noted that the achieved unanimity represents a “significant institutional support” for thousands of professional fishermen, boat owners, and maritime workers operating in the islands.
They reminded that the sector has been advocating for years for the implementation of control measures compatible with maritime safety, the operational reality of the fleet, and the unique circumstances of the Canary Islands as an Outermost Region of the European Union.
Furthermore, they particularly valued the Parliament of the Canary Islands’ recognition of the specific characteristics of the artisanal fleet, which is largely composed of small vessels making daily ports of call and operating under the unique oceanic conditions of the Atlantic.
They also considered the support for proportional measures that can achieve control and traceability objectives without compromising navigational safety or the economic viability of artisanal fishing to be crucial.
“A CLEAR MESSAGE” FOR SPAIN AND EUROPE
Additionally, the organisations highlighted that the unity demonstrated by the Canary Parliament sends a clear message to national and European institutions that the modernisation of control systems must respect the specificities of the archipelago.
As such, they reiterated their willingness to continue collaborating with public administrations to ensure sustainable, balanced fisheries management that aligns with the future of coastal communities.
