Patrolling the seas

摘要

The Tarifa, one of Spain's four main fish-cry inspection vessels, has just returned from a ten-day bluefin tuna patrol in the Bay of Biscay. The 37-strong crew, with the assistance of up to four inspectors, have recently carried out similar exercises in the Mediterranean. In September, they will leave EU waters and lend their support to fishery inspection activities off Newfoundland in the North West Atlantic as part of the 140 days they spend on average at sea every year. The vessel is operated by the navy on behalf of the Spanish Ministry of Fisheries. It works closely with the Vigo-bascd Com- munity Fisheries Control Agency and the European Commission's directorate-general for fisheries and maritime affairs as part of efforts to clamp down on illegal fishing. Last year, Spain's fishery inspection teams made some 5,000 sightings and carried out around 2,500 inspections, normally taking between 30 and 60 minutes each, at sea.