UK retains Spanish vessel thought to be overfishing
FIS
By Analia Murias
July 28, 2010
UK authorities have held a fishing vessel, Coyo Tercero, from Ribeira, A Coruña, captive for almost 20 days. The fishermen allegedly "under-stated the number of catches" of hake, confirmed the Ministry of the Environment and Rural and Marine Affairs (MARM), reports the Europa Press.
The company who owns the boat, Hijos de Vidal Bandín S.A., denies that it exceeded the allowable catch limit.
According to the inspector for the Spanish assembly, José Ramón Triñanes, the charges against the company that will be made as a result of keeping the ship at Falmouth port in Cornwall are unknown.
The Coyo Tercero is a longline vessel carrying 16 crew members from Ribera.
"If they over fished, they would not have been allowed to land the fish and bring it to Vigo," said Triñanes.
"What was on the boat is justified and has been sold," he said.
It has also been reported that due to manipulation by the inspectors, the reviewed fish was in a terrible condition and had to be marketed at a lower price than normal.
He also said that he was "afraid" that the British authorities "were only looking for a way" to charge exess fees to Spanish longliners.
Triñanes also stated that Hijos de Baudin have more fishing boats, and this is the first time they have had this problem.