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SAINT-JEAN-DE-LUZ (awp/afp) – The “unusual” density of a school of blue whiting caused the rupture of the fishing net which led to the rejection of tens of thousands of dead fish in the Bay of Biscay, justified on Saturday the European association of pelagic freezer trawlers (PFA).
“The Margiris, a member of the PFA, found off La Rochelle following reports of large schools of fish in this area, suffered a fishing incident at 05:50 GMT” Thursday, recalls the PFA in his statement. “The ship instantly notified the competent authorities of the occurrence of this incident,” she continues.
“Rarely, the trawl containing blue whiting – a species subject to quotas – broke accidentally, thus involuntarily releasing fish into the sea. This trawl breakage is explained in particular by the substantial and unusual density in this area , of the targeted school of fish,” the statement said.
The NGO Sea Shepherd, which campaigns for control of fishing methods and patrols at sea, released images Thursday showing a huge school of dead fish floating on the surface of the sea.
The Minister of the Sea Annick Girardin announced on Friday that she had requested the opening of an administrative investigation. She also clarified that the accident was declared in the boat’s logbook and that these fish will be removed from her quota. European Commissioner for Oceans and Fisheries Virginijus Sinkevicius also announced the opening of an investigation via Twitter.
“Faced with this incident, the Margiris has put in place drastic measures to prevent it from happening again,” says the PFA. “The trawl tows are already greatly reduced and the filling sensors have been updated to be in line with the exceptional density of the schools in this area”, according to the press release.
laf/pn/mpm