Last Wednesday was key in the plenary session of Congress because the proposal that groups six legislative initiatives to update the General Fisheries Law was approved in the first vote. According to the president of the Production Commission, Esdras Medina, this will prevent the depletion of hydrobiological resources in the medium and long term.
obstacles to changes
The Fuerza Popular (FP) bench was in charge of putting a stop to the package that it seeks, for example, incorporating the category of overexploited resources into the law, updating the classification of artisanal and small-scale fishing, and ordering the first five nautical miles for a sustainable use of the species. The first blow came from Jorge Morante (FP), who raised a previous question assuring that a reduction in fines would be included, which, in his opinion, responded to “some type of arrangement.”
Along these lines, hours before the debate, the National Fisheries Society (SNP) released a statement alleging that they were concerned that the proposal “establishes the reduction and exoneration of administrative fines in the fishing and aquaculture sector by up to 50% ”. Percy Grández, legal adviser for Marine Governance of the Peruvian Society of Environmental Law (SPDA), maintains that the measure allows fines of up to 90% not to be waived again, as approved by the Ministry of Production (Produce) last year.
“This opinion states that discounts of up to 40% of the fines can be made at most, in order to guarantee the application of the principle of reasonableness established by the law of general administrative procedure. That is, to prevent impunity from being generated, ”he said. Although there is an exception, as Norma Yarrow (Avanza País) pointed out, this implies that fines are reduced by up to 50% only for offenses committed during the pandemic.
Produce sets the tuna fishing limit at 43,826 tons for 2023. Photo: diffusion
Although the previous question did not prosper, after the debate, the second vote did not reach the necessary support. The majority of votes against and abstentions were from Fuerza Popular, 12 and 7, respectively. The other was from Jorge Montoya (Popular Renovation).
fisheries management
Grández explained that the measures include establishing a list of gear and methods allowed for fishing and those that are not there are automatically considered prohibited; In addition, the category of overexploited resources is incorporated into the general fishing law. “The norm orders Produce to establish fishing management measures for the recovery of those resources that are in a condition of overexploitation,” he said.
For his part, Medina told this outlet that he expects its approval to be given next week or, at the latest, in 15 days, and acknowledged that motions for interpellation are on the agenda of Congress, although he is also giving priority to the opinions of the Constitution Commission.
artisans are pronounced
Artisanal fishermen from Lima, grouped in the Guardians of the Five Marine Miles collective, and regional leaders asked the Production Commission to approve this regulation, since they have been hit by various crises that have affected their economy, such as the pandemic by Covid-19, abnormal waves and the oil spill in Ventanilla. “Its approval will ensure the country’s food supply in the present and for future generations”they pointed out.
Source: Larepublica
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