Burgos, Spain - Spain will ask the European Union and the United Nations to "reinforce all measures" against piracy in the Indian Ocean, Environment Minister Elena Espinosa said Monday.

The minister said Spain would "insist" on such a need at the next EU council of ministers dealing with the matter.

Fishing vessels and other ships were under "constant" attacks by pirates, who came mainly from Somalia, explained the minister, whose country is coordinating the EU anti-piracy military mission, known as Atalanta.

Somali pirates attacked more than 130 merchant ships in the region last year, an increase of more than 200 percent on 2007, according to the International Maritime Bureau. (dpa)