MADRID , Spain ( CNN ) -- Spain will send up to 395 troops to combat piracy off the coast of Somalia as part of a European Union task force , the Spanish Parliament agreed on Wednesday . A soldier looks at a Yemeni fishing boat from a French frigate . Spanish troops are due to join the EU task force . The near-unanimous parliamentary vote authorizing the troop deployment came after a Spanish tuna fishing boat was seized last spring by Somali pirates and later released , after a reported payment of ransom . Last November , a Spanish press photographer was kidnapped in Somalia , while working on a story about piracy . He was released two weeks ago . Spanish Defense Minister Carme Chacon told parliament before the vote that the fight against piracy `` is of vital importance for the defense of the geostrategic and economic interests of Spain , and will provide security to our fishing fleet , '' according to a defense ministry statement . Spain already has a P-3 maritime surveillance plane with 70 troops at a French air base in Djibouti , just north of Somalia , and those assets will now go toward the EU task force against piracy , involving various EU nations . In addition , Spain will send a frigate with a helicopter and 196 troops , and later a supply ship with a helicopter and 118 more troops . Spain is due to take the rotating command of the EU task force next April , when Spanish fishing boats work off of Somalia , the ministry statement said . The cost to Spain 's treasury will be €3.7 million to €5.1 million ( $ 4.7 million to $ 6.5 million ) per month , depending on the assets deployed .
Spain to send 395 troops to join EU task force against piracy off Somali coast . Vote follows seizure of Spanish tuna fishing boat by pirates last spring . Spain due to take over the command of the EU task force next April . Pirate attacks in Gulf of Aden have increased sharply in recent months .