Spanish trawlers will be able to operate for 13 more days in the Mediterranean in the remainder of 2025, which increases the average number of days available per vessel from 130 to 143. The announcement comes at a time when more than 90% of the fleet of 557 vessels are banned from going out to sea and offers, in the words of Agriculture Minister Luis Planas, peace of mind to the sector, as well as ensuring fish supplies for Christmas. Since 2020, European Union (EU) regulations have progressively reduced fishing days in pursuit of more sustainable fishing. However, administrations and the fishing sector warn that the number of days currently authorized makes the activity economically unsustainable. The resolution, communicated on Monday by Planas, will be applied as an emergency measure. For 2026, the EU Council of Fisheries Ministers will discuss the definitive planning at its meeting on 11 and 12 December.
The extension communicated by the ministry amounts to a total of 7,339 additional days, which represents an average of 13 more days per ship. The distribution of these days will be adapted to the particular situation of each ship and will be communicated individually by the State Administration through an official notification. Planas explained that obtaining this increase “was the result of intense technical work” which required detailed monitoring of fleet activity and “maximum use of compensation mechanisms authorized by the European Union”.
The minister claimed that in recent days, although the period in which the Mediterranean fleet can fish has not yet increased, the supply of fish has been guaranteed. Nonetheless, he appreciated the fact that the measure communicated today allows us to improve planning for the coming weeks.
