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Image: CEPESCA / FIS
The Spanish fishing sector asks the Ministry of Defense to extend 'Operation Atlanta' in the face of the rise in piracy attacks
(SPAIN, 3/8/2024)
The Spanish fishing sector, represented by the Spanish Fishing Confederation (Cepesca), has expressed the need to extend Operación ‘Atalanta’, for another year, launched by the European Union at the end of 2008 to confront the threat of Somali pirates for the merchant and fishing fleets, and which Spain is currently leading. The fishing sector thus joins the request made by letter to the Minister of Defense, Margarita Robles, by the Clúster Marítimo Español (CME), a non-profit association that defends and represents the interests of more than 140 entities that encompass more of 3,000 companies and entities related to the Blue Economy.
Source: Ministerio de Defensa
This request arises after learning of the latest Report on Piracy and Armed Robbery published in January 2024 by the International Maritime Bureau (IMB), which warns of the worrying increase in recorded incidents of maritime piracy and armed robbery. during 2023, and especially the kidnapping recorded in December off the coast of Somalia, the first to occur in that area since 2017.
Source: Ministerio de Defensa -->
Specifically, according to this report, in 2023 there were 105 boardings, nine attempted attacks and the hijacking of four vessels, two of which were shot at. In total, the IMB counted 120 incidents of maritime piracy and armed robbery against ships last year compared to the 115 recorded in 2022.
In these incidents, which endanger the safety of sea workers, the number of crew members taken hostage has gone from 41 to 73 while, if in 2022 there were two who were kidnapped by pirates, this figure rose to 14. in 2023.
Given the evidence that piracy continues to be a risk for ships transiting off the coast of Somalia, the fishing sector considers it necessary for Spain to extend Operation 'Atalanta', which has given such good results in the safety of Spanish vessels. that transit or fish in the region, beyond December 13, 2024.
Source: CEPESCA (Translated from the original in Spanish)
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