The European Union reached an agreement early Saturday on the distribution of fishing quotas in Community waters which allows the Spanish fleet in the Mediterranean to maintain the working days of 2025, or 143 days, subject to the maintenance of compensation measures.
As explained by the Minister of Agriculture and Fisheries, Luis Planas, in his statements after the agreement reached in the community capital, this year’s negotiations were “more difficult” than previous years due to the very restrictive basis from which the European executive started. “It’s an obvious success” declared about the agreement obtained, after having valued the effort put in place by the sector and defended that the fleet should not apply additional measures.
Brussels asked a 65% reduction in working daysup to just 9.7 days, with the possibility of returning to a level of activity similar to that of 2024 – around 130 days – if new compensation measures are taken, which the government and the sector viewed with some suspicion.
In addition to the flying doors and the change in fencing applied during this year, Brussels proposed ban on fishing activities with red shrimp trawlers in waters at depths less than 600 meters. Also a veto on trawling at depths less than 800 meters.
Ultimately, the EU decided to extend the catch limits for 2025 until next year. for red shrimp in Spanish and French waters, do the same with other similar species from Italian waters.
Sole and haddock cuts
In the case of the Atlantic, Spain has managed to mitigate the reduction proposed by the European Commission in species like the Cantabrian solefrom the proposed 28% to the final 9%, while that of the Bay of Biscay will be reduced by 1%. Same scenario for pollock, which suffered a slight drop in orders from Brussels, of the initial 26%, 13% was agreed.
Concerning hake, the most emblematic and valuable species of the Iberian fishing zones, Spain therefore maintains the quota for next year You will be able to catch up to 17,445 tonnes of this species, a character Planas called “magnificent” upon his arrival at the meeting.
On the other side is mackerel, a species awaiting distribution agreements with coastal states like Norway. EU follows scientific advice agreed provisional catch limits for the first six months of 2026, -70%, until an agreement is reached. As the fishing season for this species is only later, the 27 have accepted a provisional reduction of 90%.
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