Spain, along with most other EU members, has rejected a proposal by Brussels to introduce a sort of points system license for fishermen.
The Council of Ministers for Agriculture and Fisheries have been trying to update the current, obsolete rules and controls covering the fishing fleets of Europe.
Their idea was to introduce a license system whereby points were added to the license following any infringement, such as the use of illegal nets, exceeding catch quotas and a number of other offences. Points would be accumulated until the license was full and it would then be withdrawn. In effect, a car license system in reverse.
Spain is keen to see more control in the fishing sector, but like many other EU countries, doesn’t believe the license system would be very effective, particularly as it makes no distinction between large and small vessels.