In an interview with Voz de Galicia (northwest Spain’s largest daily newspaper), Iván López, president of the association of cod vessel owners and manager of Pesquera Ancora, attacked the stewardship of European Union Fisheries Commissioner Maria Damanaki.
López claimed that EU policy is moving toward extinction, an insurmountable obstacle to a competitive fishing industry that will be untenable within five years.
“At this time, there are numerous employers in various fishing countries,” he said. “Probably those of most importance with more weight include Spain. There is huge concern, if not widespread disgust, for the present and future of European fisheries. Mrs. Damanaki is a danger to the EU.”
“We’re falling into environmentalist demagogy,” continued López. “Cowards are hiding scientifically unproven dogmas sometimes running counter to the scientists themselves. The socioeconomic aspect of Europe’s fisheries has been forgotten, it does not matter to anyone. At this time, a fisherman is not important to the EU. Perhaps only the artisanal component.”
He also called for the return of former Fisheries Commissioner Franz Fischler, who served from 1995 to 2004, to replace Damanaki.
Highlighting mistakes in Damanaki’s administration, López said: “The commissioner has decided to ignore the industry and her own team. There are great technicians in the EU [Ernesto Penas or Cesar Deben, fisheries directorate] who know everything about European fisheries from the day they first arrived. We do not listen to anyone. We believe that if we go on like this, the crisis of European fisheries will not be sustainable in five years.”
While backing the EU’s lead in combating overfishing and illegal catches, López decried: “The EU is neglecting its duties nor defending the industry because environmentalists have an excellent deal. We feel removed from the negotiations, as if we were not in the industry.”
Discussing Galician versus Norwegian blue whiting stocks, López explained: “Nobody can say that Galicia blue whiting is the same as the north. The EU said it is but no studies prove it. This is not science, it is fraud. Due to exchange quotas between Norway and the EU and the depletion of northern stocks, Oslo has benefited while the EU fleet has been unable to do the same. A Galician looking for blue whiting 80 kilometers from his homeport can’t fish because 4,000 kilometers away the Norwegians have consumed all and they will not pay anything for it. Where is social justice in the EU?”
López’s Pesquera Ancora was sold by its major shareholder, Norway’s Aker Seafoods, to UK Fisheries Ltd. for EUR 18.5 million (USD 25.2 million) in December 2010. López concluded: “The sale will bring benefits for us but we were let down by the Norwegian conglomerate. Paradoxically, we may be the only Spanish company owned by an English firm.”
