In a significant move, the Parliament of Galicia approved an initiative on Tuesday urging the Xunta to request the central government to immediately engage in diplomatic efforts with Morocco to reverse the ban on the export of frozen sardines to the European Union. This decision poses a serious threat to the Galician canned fish industry, which heavily relies on this vital raw material. The initiative, spearheaded by the PPdeG and supported by the PSdeG, was passed during the fishing committee session of the regional legislature, while the BNG chose to abstain from the vote.
This initiative calls on the national government to seek to suspend the prohibition imposed by Rabat, thereby restoring trade flows to EU member states. Additionally, it urges that this issue be escalated to the European Commission so that measures can be taken to protect the interests of the processing sector and ensure adherence to existing international agreements. It also requests that Madrid keeps the Galician administration and the canned fish industry informed about all actions taken and coordinates support measures should the situation persist.
The concerns within the sector are considerable, given that 90% of the frozen sardines used by Galician canneries come from Morocco, which is a strategic supplier for processing plants in the region. The ban, which came into effect on February 1, specifically targets this critical raw material, jeopardizing industrial activity at a time when Morocco is aiming to prioritize internal supply following a decline in catches, while also safeguarding its value chain and maintaining exports of processed products.
This ban threatens the Galician industry on two fronts: first, by potentially decreasing the availability of raw materials for factories; and second, by enhancing competition from Moroccan canned products, which can continue to enter the market under more favorable price or margin conditions. This competitive edge can be attributed, in part, to significantly lower production costs in Morocco compared to Europe, particularly regarding fuel for fleets and electricity for processing plants—both crucial factors in the competitiveness of the marine-industry chain.
As reported by farodevigo.es.
