The Galician fleet still cannot fish in over 16,500 square kilometres of community waters. Four years after the ban, Brussels has not updated the closure map.
According to Faro de Vigo, the Galician fishing fleet continues to be unable to fish in over 16,500 square kilometres of community waters. The ban on bottom fishing came into effect on October 9, 2022 in 87 areas of the northeastern Atlantic.
The regulation requires the European Commission to request an annual scientific assessment of areas with vulnerable marine ecosystems and to review the list of protected polygons. So far, that review has not resulted in any modification of the closure map.
The International Council for the Exploration of the Sea (ICES) has published its latest opinion, proposing to increase the number of polygons to 128, 120 or 126, depending on the scenario. Scenarios C, D, and E would reduce the total restricted perimeter by 8.7%, 32.2% or 4.8%, respectively.
In the most favourable option for the sector, the area banned from bottom fishing would decrease from the current 16,559 square kilometres to a minimum of 11,230. The decision now rests with the European Commission, which has yet to make a statement.
Experts advising Brussels, the Scientific, Technical and Economic Committee for Fisheries (Stecf), already pointed out a year ago that the closures had far-reaching economic effects. According to their data, catches, fishing days, and the value of landings in Spain fell by 20%, 16% and 11%, and longline vessels suffered an impact of over 90%.
The stone-ball technique, which minimally contacts the seabed, is used by hake fishermen based in Lugo in the Gran Sol fishing ground. This technique has achieved an initial victory: from now on, it will be recorded separately in the European fishing data system, allowing it to demonstrate its low impact. The Spanish government continues its legal battle with Brussels to remove this method from the restrictions.
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