The objective of the subsidies is to guarantee the viability of the sector during the days when the shellfish catchers must suspend their activity.

Andalusia allocates EUR 300,000 in aid for smaller gear fleet affected by temporary stop

SPAIN
Tuesday, April 23, 2019, 22:10 (GMT + 9)

The Ministry of Agriculture, Livestock, Fisheries and Sustainable Development of Andalusia has opened the period to request aid to compensate for the inactivity of vessels during the temporary stoppage of the minor gear fleet affected by the Management Plan for the trawl or mechanized dredges fishery in the Mediterranean coast of Andalusia.

The total budget allocated to these grants amounts to EUR 300,000 co-financed by the European Maritime and Fisheries Fund (EMFF) and the Junta de Andalucía.

Coastal vessels of the type of trail towed by stern (left) and by bow (right).

These incentives can benefit both affected shipowners, whose aid is calculated according to the fishing capacity of each boat from a minimum of EUR 100 per business day, as well as the crewmembers, who will receive up to EUR 45 per day.

Those interested can submit the necessary documentation from May 2 to 15 of the same month.

In the case of the striped venus clam, the fishing ban began on March 25 in the Mediterranean coast when the maximum catch allowed for this species was reached, although the boats operating in this fishing ground have been able to continue catching other shellfish.

The objective of the subsidies managed by the Junta de Andalucía is to guarantee the viability of the sector during the days when the shellfishers must stop their activity in order to allow the regeneration of the fishing ground. In this way, a sustainable fishing activity is achieved, that is, combining fishing with the conservation of Mediterranean resources.

Shellfish harvester with a hydraulic bow dredger.

The Mediterranean shellfish census totals 215 mechanized dredges whose main ports are in Cádiz (La Línea de la Concepción, 42 vessels) and Málaga (Estepona, 36 vessels, Vélez-Málaga, 34 vessels, Fuengirola, 26 vessels, and Marbella, 13 vessels). As for crew members, these Andalusian boats total around 400 people.

This is a multi-species fishery mainly targeting rock octopus (50 per cent), smooth clam, common cuttlefish, truncate donax and striped venus clam (around 30 per cent combining these four species). In 2018, the Mediterranean mechanized dredge fleet captured 941 tonnes worth EUR 6.7 million.

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