The oceanic patrol boat ‘Alborán’ returns to Cartagena after participating in the NAFO 2014 Campaign

The oceanic patrol vessel (OPV) ‘Alborán’ has just returned to Cartagena after a two-month deployment in Newfoundland (Canada) participating in the 2014 protection campaign of NAFO (North-west Atlantic Fisheries Organization) fishing grounds. The ship was welcomed by COMARCART (Maritime Action Force Units Commander), Captain Juan Escrigas.

The main purpose of this campaign was to monitor the rich fishing grounds of Newfoundland where large trawlers operate 200 miles off the Canadian coast. The fishing boats come mainly from Spain, Portugal, Faroe Islands, Russia and Baltic nations and fish catches included: redfish, Greenland halibut, skate-fish, Atlantic cod and shrimps.

Canadian and European Union patrol vessels participated in the surveillance and monitoring campaign. The OPV ‘Alborán’ carried out a total of 18 inspections and provided medical assistance to different fishermen from three trawlers.

This mission is framed within the Spanish commitment to provide naval units to EU fishing inspection and surveillance campaigns. German and Portuguese patrol boats have also taken part in this NAFO seasonal campaign.

With a crew of 38 people plus a medical doctor, the patrol boat ‘Alborán’ belongs to the Maritime Action Force with home base in Cartagena (Murcia). For this specific campaign, NAFO inspectors and EFCA (European Fisheries Control Agency) coordinators also embarked. The inspectors were from Portugal, Poland, Estonia and Spain.