On Tuesday 17 January, the European Fisheries Control Agency, based in Vigo, Spain, presented three new patrol vessels, which will step up inspections to verify compliance with the common fisheries policy (CFP) rules.
These vessels will increase the Vigo agency’s operational capacity for the monitoring, control and surveillance of fishing activities.
The European Commissioner for Oceans and Fisheries, Virginijus Sinkevičius, said: “These vessels are fulfilling a crucial role in making our fisheries more sustainable and promoting a level playing field for our fishermen. They strengthen the EU’s fisheries inspection tools. The new vessels will contribute to the control of fishing activities in EU waters and beyond and the achievement of our objectives”.
The new vessels will be deployed mainly as fishing patrol vessels in the Atlantic and Mediterranean to assist the EU Member States in organising operational coordination activities with various ‘joint deployment plans’ in EU sea basins, and within certain regional fisheries management organisations.
Named ‘Ocean Guardian’, ‘Ocean Protector’ and ‘Ocean Sentinel’ and flying the Portuguese flag, the vessels will also perform other coastguard functions, including maritime surveillance and pollution response. You can find more info here: https://aeur.eu/f/4x8 (Original version in French by Lionel Changeur)