The Minister of Agriculture, Food and Fisheries, Luis Planas, conveyed to the Vigo shipowners his “pain and sorrow” for the tragedy of “Villa de Pitanxo”. In a meeting with the Vigo Shipowners Cooperative (ARVI), Planas, who was accompanied by the General Secretary of Fisheries, Alicia Villauriz, reported on the operation and the “permanent contacts” with Canada, Portugal (for the fishing vessels involved) and the European Commission.
“We want to show the solidarity and support of the Government,” said Planas, who recalled the presence in Newfoundland of the Spanish consul general in Montreal.
Canada decided yesterday to end the search for the 12 disappeared from “Villa de Pitanxo”, sunk Tuesday night with 24 people on board. Only three have survived. However, the president of the Xunta, Alberto Núñez Feijóo, requested this Thursday that the tracking work be prolonged, alluding to humanitarian reasons.
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However, the Government Delegate in Galicia, Jose Minonesruled out requesting that the operation be extended and has pointed out that steps have already been taken to extend it for 36 hoursdespite the fact that the protocol of the Canadian authorities, in that area and in those meteorological conditions, establishes a search period of 23 hours.