The Spanish government has approved a new royal decree that updates the regulations governing fishing activities in national fishing grounds.
This new legislation introduces measures to improve quota management and ensure sustainable fishing practices for Spanish-flagged fleets operating in international waters and third countries’ exclusive economic zones.
Key among the new changes is the establishment of a mechanism to reserve fishing quotas allocated to Spain for purposes of general interest. This measure aligns with the objectives of Spain’s new Sustainable Fishing and Fisheries Research Act (Law 5/2023) and will enhance the country’s ability to limit fishing volumes and preserve marine stocks.
The updated royal decree will introduce catch limits for two important species: Atlantic blue shark and Indian Ocean bigeye tuna. These changes will be formalised through two separate ministerial orders, with the aim of preserving fish stocks and supporting the sustainability of Spanish fleets.
The first order will set catch limits for bigeye tuna in the Indian Ocean, in line with the resolution passed by the Indian Ocean Tuna Commission (IOTC), which introduced these limits for the first time. The European Union followed up by setting a specific quota for Spain. The new national regulations will streamline the management of this species and help the Spanish tuna fleet operating in the Indian Ocean to plan its fishing activities effectively.
The second order focuses on Atlantic blue shark, following the recent meeting of the International Commission for the Conservation of Atlantic Tunas (ICCAT) in Cairo. The ICCAT set new quotas for the species in the northern Atlantic and introduced quotas for the southern Atlantic. These measures are intended to prevent the premature depletion of blue shark stocks before the end of each fishing season.
These new quotas will directly benefit 14 Spanish tuna freezer vessels operating in the Indian Ocean and around 70 surface longliners fishing for blue shark in the Atlantic, helping to supply high-quality seafood to the Spanish market.
The decree also empowers Spain’s General Secretariat for Fisheries to establish a reserve mechanism for fishing quotas. This mechanism, outlined in Article 40 of the Sustainable Fishing and Fisheries Research Act, allows the administration to withhold a portion of Spain’s assigned fishing quota before distributing it among vessels and fishing methods. The purpose of this reserve is to address risks such as fleet shutdowns or overfishing, ensuring better management and long-term sustainability.
The decree also extends the temporary rest period for vessels operating under the “rasco” method in the Cantabrian and Northwest census until 2026. This extension aims to support the economic and social sustainability of the fleet, in line with the Common Fisheries Policy and Spain’s Sustainable Fishing Act.
With these new measures, the Spanish Government seeks to ensure the long-term viability of its fishing industry while addressing environmental and sustainability concerns.