Fish stock pact will help co-operation, Spanish minister says in Dublin

A new Irish-Spanish agreement to protect fish stocks will greatly improve co-operation between the two states, the Spanish Fisheries and Agriculture Minister said in Dublin yesterday.

Spanish fishermen "normally observe EU regulations", and it is in Spain's interest to observe the Common Fisheries Policy (CFP), the minister, Mrs Loyola de Palacio, said.

"We like fish, we are used to it, we want to continue to eat it, and so we have the greatest interest in protecting stocks in European waters," she emphasised. She was speaking in Government Buildings after a meeting with the Minister for the Marine and Natural Resources, Dr Woods.

Detentions of Spanish-registered and Spanish flagship vessels in Irish waters had fallen, with only two cases last year for which fines were imposed, Mrs de Palacio said.

In fact, of 27 detentions made by the Naval Service in 1998, 10 were Spanish flagships and six were Spanish-registered fishing vessels. Eight Irish, two French and one British vessel were also apprehended.

Mrs de Palacio said the Madrid parliament had recently introduced measures to increase penalties and to improve monitoring. Under the agreement with Ireland, there would be an exchange of inspectors and more regular contact between the countries. Spain has also promised close monitoring of the landings of UK-registered Spanish flagships, some 115 of which work in Irish waters to avoid inspection by the British authorities. "We will be demanding that Spanish flagships respect the Common Fisheries Policy, along with other vessels."

Meetings will be arranged between fishermen and Ireland hopes to draw up a code of conduct with Spain on shared stocks - similar to one in negotiation between Ireland and France. Spain hopes to send marine scientists to Ireland to co-operate in research on threatened species, juvenile fish and protection of spawning grounds. All Spanish vessels will be fitted with "blue boxes" by the summer as part of the EU's new satellite monitoring measures, Mrs de Palacio said, adding that Spanish fishermen were no different from any others in sharing an "utmost interest" in controls. Spain had over 300 fisheries inspectors, she said, and denied that there was a shortage of inspection staff in ports.

On reform of the Common Fisheries Policy in 2002, Spain thought the policy was working well, fish stocks had stabilised, and it only required some change, she said. The Minister for the Marine, Dr Woods, emphasised Ireland's view that peripheral coastal areas had to be protected and that six- to 12-mile limits must be maintained after 2002 - a view not shared by Spain.

Ireland and Spain had much in common, and greater understanding between the two industries was critical to ensure safety at sea and better conservation of stocks, Dr Woods said. Dialogue to improve understanding was vital at this critically important time, as both fleets approached the heavy spring fishery of both hake and monkfish, he said.