The European Union’s Council of Fisheries Ministers approved the 2024 distribution of total allowable catches (TACs) and quotas after a lengthy negotiation. Luis Planas, appearing after 11:30 p.m. rather than in the early hours, announced the results of intensive talks. The outcome brought notably positive quotas for Spain, with increases for the main species, though there were some setbacks for horse mackerel and crayfish, and a negative note for hake in the Gran Sol and the Cantabrian Sea. In total, roughly 188,000 tonnes of various species will be available to the nation next year, valued at about 550 million euros at first sale.
Besides approving the Gran Sol quotas reported last week, the Council also concluded an agreement between the European Union and the United Kingdom after negotiations tied to Brexit for waters with shared stocks. The Council had to resolve the reductions to be applied in the Mediterranean, the multi-annual quotas for certain stocks, and TACs for fishing zones VIII, IX, and X, which impacted Spain the most.
EU agrees on 2024 fisheries distribution with hake as a centerpiece for Spain
“The TACs and quotas this year are very favorable for our fishing sector,” Planas remarked at the press conference, attended with the European Fisheries Commissioner, Virginijus Sinkevičius from Lithuania.
iberian waters
Scientists and the European Commission have signaled increases in the principal TACs affecting Iberian waters. For hake, the quota rises by 9.7% to 17,065 tonnes, with Spain allocated 10,921 of them. Planas highlighted that this is the most significant quota year for the fleets of Galicia, Asturias, Cantabria, the Basque Country, and Andalusia. Monkfish and roosterfish saw increases of 73% and 11.4% respectively, allowing Spain to land 3,715 tonnes of monkfish and 3,210 tonnes of roosterfish across zones IXa and VIIIc.
The anchovy TAC in the Bay of Biscay will stand at 33,000 tonnes, unchanged from recent years, while the IXa horse mackerel allocation increases by 5.3%, affecting the Rías Baixas seine fleet. A total of 166,327 tonnes remain, with 43,032 allocated to Spanish vessels.
The industry voices see room for improvement and Cepesca evaluates the grounds
Basilio Otero, president of the National Federation of Fishermen’s Guilds, called the Cantabrian Sea agreement “improvable.” He warned about the cuts to the Mediterranean fleet and the impact on other fleets. Javier Garat, secretary general of Cepesca, noted that assessments vary by fishing zone, stressing that results in the Gran Sol were positive but that whiting quotas in the Cantabrian Sea declined. He warned these changes could pose challenges for fleets. Regarding the Mediterranean, he criticized the reduced fishing days and attributed the decision to Commissioner Sinkevičius, saying it threatens the industry.
Other pelagic species include tuna. Following the international agreements, Spain will be able to land 27,832 tonnes, a 5.3% decrease.
For crayfish in the eastern Cantabrian Sea, UF31 will permit 12.4 tonnes, up 3%. UF25 in the west will keep the TAC at zero, while 32 tonnes remain for the Gulf of Cádiz (UF30).
The TAC for Norwegian lobster in the VIIIabde region off western France decreased by 14.1%, down to 3,977 tonnes, with 239 tonnes reserved for Spain.
One notable shift this year is the introduction of multi-year TACs spanning two or three years, though some stocks face reductions, including sole (-17%), halibut (-20%), and pollock (-53%).
Evaluation
Based on average market prices recorded in Galicia in 2022, the first sale is expected to value the nation’s catch at around 550 million tons. Planas expressed pride in the agreement, emphasizing that it balanced fishing activity with food security. He noted the process was complex but produced positive outcomes for the sector.
New interruption to fishing days in the Mediterranean
The initial proposal from the European Commission suggested a 9.5% reduction in fishing effort for the Mediterranean. Planas explained that ministers agreed on a mechanism to reduce the reduction by up to six percentage points if ecosystem-protective measures and gear selectivity are adopted, potentially lowering the reduction to 3.5%.
He also highlighted a future decision by the Court of Justice of the European Union on applying TACs higher than zero in cases advised by scientists.
Commissioner Sinkevičius stressed that difficult choices were made, but essential for the sector’s sustainable future and for high-quality seafood. The regional government in Galicia deemed the outcome disappointing for not improving the Commission’s initial proposal, criticizing the new perennial quotas and restrictions on horse mackerel in VIIIc, noting that most increases had already been planned.
NGOs call for stronger action
Environmental groups remained dissatisfied with the outcomes. Oceana welcomed the alignment of catch limits with scientific advice in several cases but noted that 13% of measures were still beyond what science recommends. They urged stronger efforts to curb overfishing in the Mediterranean and to protect vulnerable species.