Spanish Fishermen Plan Action Against Illegal Moroccan Fishing in Territorial Waters

Meeting in a general assembly this Saturday, the association will submit to the vote a measure targeting Moroccan fishing boats that still use driftnets, an illegal fishing practice, in Spanish waters. "What we are going to decide is to go out to sea, identify these Moroccan boats, bring them to the Spanish port and make them available to the competent authorities so that they can take measures once and for all," said Pedro Hernandez, the president of Carbopesca.

Carbopesca assures that it will continue, in collaboration with the organization Alnitak-Todos por la Mar, to denounce this situation, as it has been doing for many years. "Those who should act do not do so and the fishermen of Carboneras are tired of protesting against illegal fishing practices, in particular the use of driftnets," these fishermen said, denouncing again the entry of Moroccan fishing vessels into Spanish waters, despite the permanent presence of a Spanish patrol boat in the area and a surveillance helicopter.

This practice has been prohibited since the 1980s, but the Moroccan fleet continues to practice it regularly, they deplore, adding that they must "do everything to ensure compliance with the texts in force". The Spanish fishermen in the area say they are tired of denouncing this illegal practice still carried out by several EU and non-EU countries, causing accidental capture and death of many marine species (cetaceans, turtles, sharks and rays) as well as "unfair competition towards the rest of the fishermen who have stopped using this fishing gear".