EU-Vessel Fishing Violations on Grand Banks Fuel Calls for Enforcement Reform

Strategic Insights -

The latest charges of illegal fishing against a Spanish vessel, Estai, have reignited concerns over lax enforcement of fishing regulations in the Grand Banks by European fishermen. According to inspection reports from the Northwest Atlantic Fisheries Organization (NAFO), dozens of Spanish and Portuguese vessels were cited in 1992 and 1993 for undersized catches, misreporting catches, and using small-mesh nets or liners to avoid fishing smaller fish. The federal government's seizure of Estai and charges against its captain have prompted Fisheries Minister Brian Tobin to call for enforceable fishing agreements that would penalize vessels fishing illegally worldwide.

Key Takeaways:

  • 52 charges were issued against European vessels in 1992 and 1993, with 26 of those charges issued in 1993, according to DFO inspectors.
  • The EU charged 21 vessels with fishing violations in 1993, resulting in two convictions, one acquittal, and the rest of the cases still to be heard.
  • In 1992, an EU patrol vessel laid 36 charges against Spanish vessels, with eight cases resulting in fines, two in warnings, and one dismissed in Spanish courts.
  • Canadian patrol vessels reported 19 fishing violations by Spanish vessels in 286 inspections, with no record of prosecutions.
  • The European Union spends $3-million annually on surveillance of fishing vessels in the Northwest Atlantic.
  • The NAFO annual meeting in September 1994 reported six convictions out of 49 European vessels charged with fishing offenses in 1993.
  • Fisheries Minister Brian Tobin advocates for enforceable fishing agreements that would penalize vessels fishing illegally worldwide and has requested the United Nations to develop such agreements.
  • Inspectors found large quantities of undersized fish on board the Estai, and a small-mesh net was recovered by a Canadian trawler.
  • The Canadian Department of Oceans and Fisheries is unable to determine whether the EU prosecuted the Estai on previous charges of unreported quantities of American plaice.

Statistics:

  • 52 total charges issued against European vessels in 1992 and 1993.
  • 26 charges issued by DFO inspectors in 1993.
  • $3-million annual expenditure by the European Union on surveillance of fishing vessels in the Northwest Atlantic.
  • 49 European vessels charged with fishing offenses in 1993, resulting in six convictions.
  • Eight EU fines levied against Spanish vessels for 1992 fishing violations.
  • 20 boats from the EU and Canada observed to be misreporting catches in 286 inspections in 1992.

Sources:

  • BYLINE: KEVIN COX Halifax NS -- BY KEVIN COX Atlantic Bureau HALIFAX
  • Date: Not specified
  • Source: The article does not provide a specific publication date.