The Patrol Boat ‘Alborán’ concludes the EU inspection and surveillance campaign in Icelandic waters

The Spanish Navy patrol boat ‘Alborán’ has just returned to Cartagena after a 40-day deployment participating in this year’s NEAFC (North-East Atlantic Fisheries Commission) seasonal campaign in the Irminger Sea, 210 miles south of Iceland.

The Spanish Navy conducted 20 inspections of trawlers from different nationalities -Russian, Norwegian, Faroese, Icelandic, German and Spanish- to ensure conservation of fishery resources, particularly that of the redfish. During the campaign, the boat verified that trawlers in the area complied with existing regulations, including the appropriateness of the fishing gear employed.

The ship’s medical personnel were available for fishermen requesting their services, in close coordination with the Icelandic Coast Guard Service and one of its patrol boats operating in the area, the ‘Thor’.

The ‘Alborán’ embarked NEAFC inspectors from Spain, Poland and the United Kingdom. Additionally, two Spanish Navy ensigns from the Naval Academy also embarked to continue with their military training at sea.