Lola García Demands Immediate Halt to Industrial Fishing Fence Project

Lola García expresses her full support for the Canary fishing sector, which has shown unanimous rejection of the experimental industrial fence plan approved by ICCAT.

The president deems it “unacceptable” that this proposal was presented by the Spanish Government’s General Fisheries Secretariat without consulting either the sector or the Canary institutions, despite its direct impact on fishing grounds, fishermen, and the local economy.

She also warned that the introduction of the industrial fence would constitute “a serious threat to the Canary artisanal fleet,” a sustainable and traditional fishing model that has proven respectful of the marine ecosystem.

Regarding environmental impact, the president emphasized that Canary waters are among the world’s richest sites in terms of biodiversity, stating:

“Allowing the industrial fence in such a sensitive environment could cause irreparable damage, especially to the dolphins that accompany tuna schools.”

For all these reasons, the president calls on the Spanish Government to withdraw the project defended at ICCAT immediately and to guarantee that no strategic fishing decisions for the Canary Islands are made again without the involvement of the fishing sector and the Canary institutions.