European Commissioner Karmenu Vella in a statement said “We strongly condemn the infringements and malpractices as reported by the Spanish Guardia Civil under ‘Operation Tarantelo’. They are in breach of EU and international rules and as such cannot be tolerated.
The European Commission has been in contact with all the relevant national authorities and other relevant actors in this operation (i.e. Europol) to follow up on the ongoing Tarantelo investigation, which is now at the level of the “Audiciencia Nacional” in Spain.
We stand ready to provide any further assistance that may be required to the relevant authorities working on the ‘Operation Tarantelo’.”
Asked whether it is true that the DG MARE Director General met Ms Farrugia on 20 June 2018 in Bulgaria to discuss about Bluefin tuna? What problem did he have to fix?
A spokesman for the Commissioner said that “The Director General of DG MARE was in Bulgaria for an informal meeting of the Directors General from all Member States organised by the Bulgarian Presidency to discuss the Commission’s proposal for a control regulation. He participated in that meeting and had no bilateral meeting with Ms Farrugia.
Asked about what has the European Commission done to react to the Operation Tarantelo, the Commission’s spokesman said the “The European Commission has been in contact with all the relevant national authorities and other relevant actors in this operation (i.e. Europol) to follow up on the ongoing Tarantelo investigation, which resulted in 79 arrests and is now at the level of the “Audiciencia Nacional” in Spain. Moreover, the European Commission conducts regular audits in tuna farms. An audit in Maltese tuna farms, carried out in October 2018, highlighted a number of shortcomings.
The Commission takes the findings very seriously. We are now in the process of discussing corrective measures with the Maltese authorities as a matter of priority. Other measures may be taken by the European Commission in line with the Treaty. The Commission will continue to closely monitor and scrutinise the activities of blue fin tuna fisheries in all member states concerned.
Furthermore, the European Commission is working with all Member States concerned and with the European Fisheries Control Measures to strengthen ICCAT control measures applicable to Bluefin tuna and in particular to farms.
The results of the Spanish Guardia Civil’s investigation clearly show the need to consider the tightening of control rules for BFT farming and the revision of traceability rules to avoid the marketing of illegal fish. The European Commission is working on such measures with EU Member States and the EFCA at both EU and ICCAT levels.”
The Commission Spokesman said that “We will continue to follow up the case in coordination with the authorities of the relevant Member States to ensure that appropriate action is taken and that the EU Regulations are fully complied with.
The European Commission will also use its powers in the framework of the EU legislation including through inspections and verifications in the concerned Member States and appropriate follow-up actions.
We will assess the findings of the recent Commission’s inspection to a number of BFT farms to reflect on how to improve the current legal framework and/or update the system of monitoring control and surveillance.”
