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Sources: http://www.fao.org/fi/website/FIRetrieveAction.do?dom=org&xml=fishcode_prog.xml , http://www.fao.org/fi/website/FIRetrieveAction.do?dom=org&xml=CCRF_prog.xml&xp_nav=2, http://www.fao.org/fi/website/FIRetrieveAction.do?dom=org&xml=ipoa_capacity.xml
The Spanish Fishery:
In a PowerPoint presentation given by the Spanish Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries, and Food with data from 2000-2002 on the Spanish fisheries I have found information about the conservation efforts of Spain and the size and scope of their fishing industry. The Minister discusses the location of the Spanish fishing fleet and the relative size of the fleet at each location, as well as the fish output and trade. Spain has also taken measures to offset their substantial impact on the ocean's fish populations by implementing marine reserves, aquaculture, and fishery inspections/satellite tracking.
The data show that the Spanish fleet fishes in every major ocean and has over 20 joint ventures with other countries, most of which are in Africa. Also, the overwhelming majority of Spanish fishing vessels have been operating for more than thirty years, and the majority are less than 9 meters in length (so not large boats owned by corporations). Additionally, Spanish ships output nearly one million tons of fish (including crustaceans), cans two hundred and fifty thousand tons, and imports around 5 billion tons per year (a number which far outweighs the amount of fish exported per year).
Their efforts to preserve the oceans are as follows: the Ministry runs five of the eighteen marine reserves off the coast of Spain, and produces around 300,000 tons in fish (including mollusks, fish, and crustaceans) from aquaculture, most of which is marine based (approx. 10% is land-based).
A center run by the MAPA is also tracking approx. 1,700 fishing vessels with portable on board "Blue Box" units. The government also employs GPS to track vessels.
Ministerio de Agricultura, Pesca y Alimentacion. (2002). Fisheries in Spain. Madrid, Spain: Jose Ortega.
Flag Hopping and Fishing Under flags of convenience:
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