The Spanish government is charging several dozen Spanish nationals and issuing fines that could add up to millions of Euros as a result of an investigation into Illegal, Unreported and Unregulated (IUU) fishing, drawing praise from environmental NGOs.
“This is the highest known sanction and the first of its kind ever imposed in the European Union regarding IUU fishing,” said Maria Jose Cornax, fisheries campaign manager at Oceana.
The Ministry of Agriculture, Food and Environment, engaged in what it called Operation Sparrow, has filed 19 charges, each punishable by up to EUR 600,000 (USD 681,732), with the potential of loss of fishing licenses as well. In total, the government is proceeding with charges against as many as 50 Spanish nationals. The government has also begun disciplinary proceedings against the operators of four vessels – registered under the names KUNLUN, Songhua, Yongding Tiantai – on the IUU fishing list of the Convention for the Conservation of Marine Living Resources in the Antarctic.
The government accused various fishing companies, some operating through fronts in third countries, of conducting IUU fishing or otherwise knowingly benefiting from it. The government analyzed more than 3,000 documents over a two-month period as part of its investigation.
NGOs praised the move, calling it “record breaking” in a joint statement, and called for other governments to follow Spain’s example.
“It must be fully implemented across all EU member states so no EU citizen can be engaged in illegal fishing activities at home or abroad,” said Raúl Garcia of the World Wildlife Fund. “Globally, other key fishing and seafood market states must also strengthen their legal frameworks and collaborate with the EU to improve fisheries governance and put an end to illegal fishing.”
