"Spain is a country deeply connected to the sea, through its culture and gastronomy, and in the collective imagination, the idea of the small fisherman persists," acknowledges Alexandra Cousteau, granddaughter of the popular French explorer. "But I don't think Spaniards understand the extent of industrial fishing and even illegal fishing, both in their territorial waters and in long-distance fleets."
The activist and senior advisor at Oceana, the world's largest NGO for ocean conservation, is attending the UN Ocean Summit (UNOC3) in Nice with a mission: to demand "political courage" from leaders to fill the legal gaps that, in her opinion, perpetuate the neglect of the oceans.
"What's the point of designating a marine protected area if such a destructive practice as trawling is allowed?" warns Alexandra Cousteau in statements to El Mundo, recalling her close ties to our country. "Announcements can turn into parodies if effective measures are not taken. Spain should move towards strict protection, which would mean 'shielding' up to 10% of its territorial waters to turn them into biodiversity paradises."
The activist acknowledges the progress made by our country in marine protection but raises another pressing issue, following the report presented in Nice by Oceana (and conducted by the EqualSea Lab at the University of Santiago) under the title Beyond the flag: Who really owns the world's large-scale fishing fleet?
"The study reveals the existence of a fleet of 344 ships from EU companies operating under foreign flags from up to 43 countries, allowing them to benefit from a 'governance gap.' Spain tops the list with 228 industrial fishing vessels. 23% of these fly flags from countries like Panama, Senegal, or Guinea Bissau, known and criticized for their leniency towards illegal fishing (something akin to 'tax havens' of the sea)."
Sánchez at the Nice Ocean Summit: "There are no ideologies in marine protection"
"The lack of transparency in the ownership of these ships is total," warns Alexandra Cousteau. "You have to peel back several layers of the onion to know who is behind them and who is truly benefiting. It's very difficult to track them, they switch flags and operate practically unsupervised."
Oceana has urged the Spanish government to adopt the Bill on the control, inspection, and sanctioning regime of maritime fishing to fill the legal gap. "It's urgent to have responsibility, transparency, and accountability to prevent illegal activities that are decimating the oceans," warns Alexandra Cousteau.
The activist points out the connection between illegal fishing and overfishing (excessive catches endangering fish population recovery).
On the other hand, the FAO estimates that overfishing threatens 37% of fish populations and that 10% of marine species are facing extinction.
"In Spain, as in France, we hear voices saying, 'We can't sacrifice the fishermen,'" emphasizes Alexandra Cousteau. "But we're not talking about traditional fishermen. We're talking about corporations with huge ships fishing 365 days a year, 24 hours a day, using all the technological advancements that allow them to catch fish with almost military precision."
"Our oceans are changing, climate change is wreaking havoc, and we must tackle illegal fishing more decisively than before, precisely to ensure that the seas are resilient and can continue to support multiple generations in coastal communities," she adds.
The French activist, founder of Oceans2050, with the goal of "restoring abundance in the oceans" by mid-century, recognizes the role of the UN and the impetus that UNOC3 can provide to increase global awareness of the sea, particularly the Mediterranean, the beating heart of the French Riviera where we are.
"But people distrust institutions," she warns. "What is needed are politicians who act with courage. In this regard, I am disappointed with Emmanuel Macron's announcement to 'protect' just 4% of French waters from trawling. Allowing that practice in marine protected areas is a mockery. France has missed the opportunity to become a true global leader."
ERRATUM. This article has been modified. In the initial version, it incorrectly stated that 23% of the Spanish fleet operates under flags of countries bypassing EU control. We apologize to the readers.