The European Commission will closely monitor Spain’s decision to grant 13 more days of fishing to the Mediterranean fleet

The European Commission assured this Tuesday that it is “following up” with the Spanish authorities on the decision made known yesterday by which the General Secretariat of Fisheries will grant 13 more days of fishing per vessel to the Mediterranean Trawl Fleetso that he can continue working until the end of the year. All this, to save the Christmas campaign, which is essential for the sales of this activity. Brussels, a spokesperson for the Community Executive has specified, wants to “obtain more information and explore solutions.” Furthermore, he has indicated that he has “seen information in the press” on the resolution adopted by the Ministry of Agriculture.

Controversy with Brussels?

Sources from the Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food assure that “They have been talking about this matter for weeks.” and have been exploring various options.” In this sense, they add forcefully that “the European Commission is aware of the decision of the Government of Spain.” At least, publicly, the Directorate General of Maritime Affairs and Fisheries (DG Mare) of the European Commission held a meeting with the sector last Thursday in Barcelona. According to sources consulted by this medium, the representatives of the fleet they failed to narrow the differences between their positions and those expressed by community officials, who relegated any solution to a scientific report, commissioned by the Commission itself, which was published yesterday.

It should be noted that two preliminary studies, those of Scientific Committee on the Mediterranean Fisheries Commission and that of Scientific, Technical and Economic Committee on Fisheries (STECF)already agreed that the populations of the main fisheries were recovering. In parallel, the aforementioned sources already pointed towards “a solution” at the beginning of next week. Even the president of the Andalusian Federation of Fishing Associations (FAAPE), José María Gallart, criticized that “they are behind the sector’s back”

Planas: “The member state is enabled to do so”

The Minister of Agriculture, Luis Planas, yesterday defended the adoption of this decision, which he assures was communicated to the European Commission. “because we believe that the member state is enabled legally for this” and alleged that it responded “to the legitimate request that the sector made to us in relation to the efforts made in recent years – sector sources estimate that the fleet’s fishing days have been reduced by more than 40% since 2020 – and the needs to finish the campaign this year.” In addition, he added that with the 13 additional days “we are at the same level as in 2024 and the good evolution of the fish, as we see in the latest scientific reports, fully justify the measure.

All of the above occurs after during the recent visit to Spain of the Fisheries Commissioner, Costas Kadis, he expressed that the European Commission was already working on “possible solutions” so that Mediterranean fishermen could continue fishing with a view to the Christmas season. Specifically, in an appearance before the Joint Commission for the European Union (EU) of the Congress of Deputies, he opened the door to the modification of the multiannual plan for the Western Mediterranean, responsible for Fishing days have been cut by more than 40%: “I do not exclude a possible future amendment to this Western Mediterranean plan” and added that “the Commission will again take into account all available management tools and all elements of flexibility offered by the current legal framework for ensure that our sector can continue fishing. Kadis also cited the need to ensure “environmental, economic and social sustainability.”

Another ‘scare or death’ December?

The head of Agriculture also considered that with these extra days the problem could be considered solved until the end of the year. However, he recognized that the conditions for fishing next year must be negotiated in the Agriculture and Fisheries Council of the days December 11 and 12. However, from the FAAPE its president was negative and showed his fear of being forced to negotiate the umpteenth ‘snip’ in the last Fisheries Council of the year: “We fear a bad proposal from the European Commission“The minister is going to have to pull out all the stops to achieve what he has not been able to do in recent years, that we have more days of fishing.”