The objective of new rules recently set out by the European Union on fishing rights in the Mediterranean is to balance environmental sustainability whilst enabling fishermen to support their livelihoods. However, the regulations have been met with fears from the fishing community.
The new rules were set out after the EU’s original proposal to to cut the annual fishing days for trawlers by almost 80% was rejected by Spain, France and Italy.
In the opinion of these three countries, the proposed cuts would have devastated the Meditteranean coastal communities who are dependent on fishing.
A compromise was finally agreed on after more than 30 hours of negotiations.
The Spanish Minister for Fishing and Agricultural, Luis Planas, said that the new agreement means ‘fishermen will be able to fish for the same amount of days in the Mediterranean in 2025 as they did in 2024.’ Palas also commented that the EU’s original proposal to decrease annual permitted fishing days from 130 to just 27 would have made fishing on Spain’s Mediterranean coast, ‘absolutely unviable’.
To maintain afloat economically, however, the fishing community will have to will have to apply various new measures.
These include committing to selectivity in order to reduce unwanted catches. This refers to selecting only the desired species and sizes from the ecosystem in which the fishery operates.
Respecting closed seasons is another way fisherman will need to adapt. Closed fishing seasons are periods when fish spawn, hence replenishing stocks. Observing closed season also helps to protect fish populations from reduction.
Using new, innovative fishing techniques has also been proposed as a way that Spain’s meditteranean fishermen can protect their livelihoods. Using equipment like flying doors, which reduce seabed disturbance, make trawlers more fuel efficient and their catch more selective.
The European Maritime, Fisheries, and Aquaculture Fund will provide financial support to fishermen to help them implement these new practices. However, local fishing communities remain skeptical, saying the costs may outweigh the benefits.
In comparison to the threatened cuts to fishing days in the Mediterranean and fears over adapting to the new measures, fisherman on Spain’s have Atlantic coast have fared much better. According to Planas, quotas for monkfish, horse mackerel and crayfish remain, ‘very good’. The proposed cut from its original 32-ton quota to six tons for Norway lobster in the Gulf of Cádiz was also reversed.
Also, almost 90 boats from the Cantabrian coast will benefit due to the EU’s recent agreement with the United Kingdom which secures fishing opportunities in 2025 for the EU fleet for about 428,000 tonnes, estimated to be worth almost €1.4 billion.