Last week Malaga’s fish market saw no fish as furious fishermen dumped 5,000 kilograms of fish on the N-340 road running from Málaga to Cádiz in protest of new European Union regulations regarding the packing and transfer of seafood catches from the quayside. Málaga’s Fishermen’s Association, representing some 400 boats, is disputing the prohibition of the sale of seafood packed in water and chopped ice forming sleet.
Junta de Andalucía’s Health Delegation said the new EU regulation is obligatory, demanding the sale and transport of catches in perforated boxes, which allow water to escape to avoid potential health problems. On the contrary Francisco Pastor, president of the Fishermen’s Association, told that the boats would remain in port until an alternative way of conserving the catch on the quayside is found.
He added that the present condition is not favourable to buy fish then why the fishermen set to sail. After wide protest fishermen returned to sea after discussing the issue with Margarita Pérez, director general of the Junta’s Fisheries and Aquaculture Board. María del Carmen Navas confirmed that the fishermen “have no choice” but to meet the requirements under Community Law in order to maintain the fleet without restrictions on catch sales.
The meeting with the Junta revealed that fishermen agreed to resume their activities and requested the development of a scientific study that guarantees the preservation of fish in sleet.
