Julio Morón and Costas Kadis

Spanish Fishing Sector Expresses Concern to Costas Kadis Over Brussels' Mixed Messages on European Fisheries

SPAIN
Wednesday, April 30, 2025, 03:00 (GMT + 9)

Cepesca denounces the discrepancy between the Commissioner's rhetoric and DG Mare's actions, demanding urgent measures to guarantee the sector's viability and European food sovereignty.

The Spanish fishing sector, represented by the Spanish Confederation of Fisheries (Cepesca), has conveyed to the European Commissioner for Fisheries and Oceans, Costas Kadis, its profound concern regarding the discrepancy between Brussels' official discourse and the concrete actions of the Directorate-General for Maritime Affairs and Fisheries (DG Mare). During a meeting held at the Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food (MAPA), Cepesca urged the Commissioner to translate his messages, delivered since taking office five months ago, into tangible actions to strengthen and support the European fishing fleet, guaranteeing the socio-economic viability of the sector alongside environmental sustainability, and basing decisions on solid scientific evidence.

Julio Morón, President of Cepesca, expressed to the Commissioner that the grand ideas announced at the beginning of his mandate do not align with the policies implemented by DG Mare, generating confusion and fear that, despite the change in rhetoric, policies that threaten the survival of European fleets and coastal communities will persist.

During the meeting, Cepesca reminded Kadis of the priority issues for correcting the current course. An urgent revision of the Mediterranean Regulation was requested to avoid further reductions in fishing days for the trawl fleet and to allow fishermen to reap the benefits of their sacrifices. Similarly, an immediate review of the regulation that closed 87 areas to bottom-fishing gears, a measure adopted without sufficient scientific basis and severely affecting bottom-fishing modalities such as longlining, was demanded.

Another key issue raised was the need for a revision of the Common Fisheries Policy (CFP), whose socio-economic balance is alarming: a 28% reduction in the fleet, a 33% drop in employment, and stagnant profitability, despite environmental progress. Cepesca also called for a review of the landing obligation, the redefinition of fishing capacity to modernize the fleet, and the effective implementation of bureaucracy reduction.

The sector also expressed the need to protect European food sovereignty, urging Kadis to strengthen domestic production and demand that imported products meet the same standards as European ones. Special attention was requested regarding tariff quotas and trade agreements with third countries.

Regarding the external dimension of fisheries policy, Cepesca denounced the lack of resources within DG Mare for a coherent and effective external fisheries policy, particularly in Regional Fisheries Management Organizations (RFMOs), Sustainable Fisheries Partnership Agreements (SFPAs), and International Ocean Governance. A central role for fisheries in the future European Ocean Pact was demanded, while expressing concern about the influence of the "Blue Manifesto" on DG Mare's direction.

Finally, the decarbonization of the fleet was addressed, with a request for support for modernization and access to financing through the EMFAF.

Cepesca thanked Minister Luis Planas for his efforts in making the meeting with Commissioner Kadis possible, especially in the difficult circumstances recently experienced in Spain.

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