The Spanish trawling fleet operating in the Mediterranean is currently made up of 565 vessels

Mediterranean fishermen consider the European Commission's proposal a declaration of war

EUROPEAN UNION
Tuesday, December 03, 2024, 00:20 (GMT + 9)

In Spain, the proposal would cut fishing days by 79%, reducing the current average of 130 days to just 27

They view it as a "poisoned legacy" from Virginijus Sinkevičius's tenure for the new Fisheries and Oceans Commissioner, Costas Kadis. The plan jeopardizes Europe’s new direction toward greater balance between biodiversity conservation, the socio-economic interests of the fishing sector, and food security across the continent.

Madrid – Fishermen from Spain, Italy, and France have described the European Commission’s (EC) proposal for further reductions in fishing days in the Mediterranean as a "declaration of war." The proposal will be discussed during the upcoming TAC and quota negotiations in Brussels on December 9 and 10.

The fishing sectors of the three countries argue that the plan, developed under former Commissioner Virginijus Sinkevičius, is a “poisoned legacy” for Costas Kadis, the new Commissioner for Fisheries and Oceans who assumes office today. They believe it threatens Europe’s intent to strike a better balance between conserving biodiversity, supporting the socio-economic interests of fishing communities, and ensuring food security for the continent.

Fishermen also expressed hope that the EU Fisheries Ministers Council will consider the joint request made on November 18 by the fisheries ministers of Spain, France, and Italy—an unprecedented move—seeking a moratorium on management measures for 2025. It is worth noting that these three nations’ ministers issued a joint statement requesting a freeze on current fishing efforts for 2025 while beginning negotiations to adapt the Western Mediterranean Multiannual Fishing Plan.

Geographical scope of the West Med MAP,  by GFCM GSAs. GSAs are grouped by colour into the two Effort Management Units under the plan:  EMU1 (1-Northern Alboran Sea, 2-Alboran Island, 5-Balearic Islands, 6-Northern Spain, and 7-Gulf of Lion) and  EMU2 (8-Corsica Island, 9-Ligurian and North Tyrrhenian Sea, 10-South Tyrrhenian Sea, and 11-Sardinia Island). Source: Oceana

Severe Impact in Spain

For Spain, the EC proposal entails a 79% reduction in fishing days for the Mediterranean trawler fleet, slashing the current annual average of 130 days to just 27. Additionally, it proposes a 30% cut in red shrimp catch limits, capping it at only 551 tons per year. According to the industry, these measures, if implemented, would result in the collapse of the 556-boat trawling fleet operating along Spain’s Mediterranean coast and the loss of 17,000 jobs it sustains.

The industry warns that these measures would have a boomerang effect, as the trawler fleet supports other fishing modalities. “Make no mistake, these measures would mean the disappearance of our fleet and the destruction of the jobs and economic activities that depend on it,” industry representatives stated.

Strong Government Opposition

In Spain, the sector appreciates the strong stance taken by the Spanish government against the proposal. Following a meeting last Friday with Isabel Artime, Secretary General for Fisheries at the Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries, and Food, the government reaffirmed its commitment to defending the future of Mediterranean fishing.

The industry insists that no new decisions should be made without conducting a comprehensive evaluation of the impact of the measures implemented over the past five years.

Background on the Proposal

The new fishing day reductions are part of the Western Mediterranean Multiannual Fishing Plan, adopted in 2019 and enforced since January 2020. The plan regulates demersal fishing to achieve Maximum Sustainable Yield (MSY) for several species by 2025. However, the plan has posed numerous challenges for trawler fleets, which face increasing restrictions on working hours, fishing days, and zones. Over the last four years alone, the plan has already reduced fishing days by 40%, imposed area closures, and restricted fishing gear usage.

Photo: OCEANA Europe ==>

Economic and Employment Impact

Spain’s Mediterranean trawler fleet currently consists of 565 vessels, which catch key species such as hake, monkfish, poor cod, red mullet, blue whiting, red shrimp, white shrimp, and Norway lobster. The sector generates approximately 17,000 jobs (3,000 directly onboard and 14,000 indirectly in related industries).

If the proposed cuts proceed, the Spanish fishing industry fears irreversible damage to its fleets and communities.

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