The entire fish industry will be able to benefit from compensation measures for losses caused by the ban on certain boats fishing in this area of the Atlantic between January 22 and February 20.
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The operation aims to protect dolphins and porpoises from accidental captures. Fishing businesses “will be compensated for their losses” during the month without fishing imposed in the Bay of Biscay from January 22, announced the Ministry of Ecological Transition, Thursday January 18. Support is provided for “the entire downstream sector”, according to the executive. Fish traders, who process fresh fish landed in the fish auctions, are particularly concerned.
Following a decision by the Council of State, fishing will be prohibited until February 20 inclusive for all boats of eight meters or more equipped with certain types of nets. The ban applies to all affected vessels active in the area, “French and flying a foreign flag”. In France, more than 450 ships are affected and losses are estimated at tens of millions of euros. The fishmongers estimate their losses at more than 60 million euros.
The government “will also support, in addition to the support provided by the Regions, the entire downstream and marketing sector, with the activation, where necessary, of partial unemployment measures and specific aid adapted to different situations”, assures the ministry. The Bay of Biscay is located in the Atlantic Ocean and stretches from Brittany to the northern coast of Spain.