Asturian Fishermen challenge EU deep-water ban plans
News from the Atlantic coast speaks of a growing fear among Asturian crews as Brussels signals a regulation that would ban most bottom fishing activities in 94 zones across France, Spain, Portugal and Ireland. The proposed measure targets trawling, longlining, and other bottom-gear methods and has critics arguing that the plan lacks solid scientific backing while stirring uncertainty among nearly two hundred sailors who rely on traditional grounds in the Principality. The Federation of Fishermen’s Guilds of Asturias calls the proposal preposterous, warning that it could devastate a centuries-old way of life for coastal communities. Still, the possibility of tighter controls puts the fleet under pressure and raises questions about the future of local livelihoods.
Asturian vessels represent a fraction of the regional fleet when counted by the number of ships—about 40 of 248. Yet the story does not end there. In terms of power, measured by motor horsepower, Asturian boats account for roughly 37 percent of the region’s fishing strength. They also supply half of the catch sold under Principality rules, with 48 percent of the 2021 statistics showing up in local markets. In exchange, these boats contribute about 52.5 percent to the initial value of sales. The numbers highlight a tension between the perceived value of traditional fishing grounds and the economic weight they carry in the broader fleet.
At a recent event in La Granda, discussions among researchers and industry participants indicated that nearly a hundred fishing sites had placed downstream gear on hold, signaling a staged protest or precautionary measure as the debate unfolds. Officials from European Union Fisheries (DG Mare) argue that the deep-water restrictions could reshape how Asturian fleets operate, potentially forcing some ships to shore or seek alternative livelihoods while others look to diversify into minerals or other sectors—outcomes that would ripple through the market and alter the variety of products available to consumers. The sense among observers is that the plan, if enacted, would have far-reaching consequences for supply chains and regional fishing communities.
The opposition is not confined to Asturias alone. The European Bottom Fishing Alliance (EBFA), which represents more than 20,000 fishermen and more than 7,000 people across Europe and is part of the Spanish Fisheries Confederation, Cepesca, has urged the withdrawal of the deep-water access regulation. The EBFA warns that the sanctions could bring dramatic disruptions to European fisheries as a whole, citing gaps in scientific evidence, limited consultation, and insufficient socio-economic impact analysis. The alliance asserts that the current form of the regulation does not command enough support from the Council and underscores the potential harm to coastal economies and livelihoods across member states.
In Spain, official voices from the Ministry of Fisheries have signaled opposition to the proposal in its present form. Isabel Artime, director general of Sustainable Fisheries from Luan, recently noted concerns during discussions in Avilés. Alongside the central Administration, regional authorities in Cantabria and other northern communities have expressed a desire to preserve the existing fishing grounds rather than removing them outright, arguing that the plan would undermine practical, on-the-ground realities faced by crews who have relied on these waters for generations. The Principality’s Fisheries General Directorate has aligned with these views, stressing the need for a careful, consultative approach before any hardLines are drawn.