At dawn on Saturday, European Union (EU) fisheries ministers closed the agreement on fishing opportunities in community waters of the Atlantic and in the Mediterranean, as well as on catch days in the Mediterranean for 2026, which were finally set at 143 days.
“After two days of work… we have reached 143 days for our Mediterranean fishing boats,” Spanish Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food Luis Planas said in a video shared with the media, adding that this year had been a “frankly difficult” negotiation since it started at 9.7 days in the European Commission’s initial proposal.
“I think it is an obvious success that I want to share with all the shipowners and fishermen who have made a great effort from the point of view of their work and also the sustainability of all stocks, through the selective measures that were applied last year,” he stressed.
The minister also announced that “this year there will be no new selective measures” and that “it is only with those in force since last year that these 143 days can be achieved.”
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