Fishermen refuse to accept the EU cuts that reduce fishing days. This is the sector’s determination to expand coverage as new reductions loom for the coming year, while stepping up pressure on the Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food to speed up social benefits processing and to provide immediate settlement of subsidies owed for 2022. The brothers warn that the current condition is unsustainable and demand fair treatment from the relevant administrations, supported by industry leaders in regional federations.
The Western Mediterranean trawling limits imposed by the European Union since 2020 have placed the sector in a tight spot. The latest cut proposed for next year could trigger another 9.5 percent reduction, effectively shortening the working window by about 15 days per vessel. The plan includes a compensation mechanism to ensure fishing activity remains within agreed limits, featuring measures such as more selective nets and gear that minimizes seabed impact. These steps aim to balance catching opportunities with environmental safeguards.
In practical terms, the 120 trawlers moored in provincial ports would be able to operate for roughly 150 days in 2024, down from the 240 days available four years earlier. The financial squeeze tightens margins and profits evaporate. Survival now hinges on EU aid, administered by the national Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food.
Juan Mulet, secretary of the Alicante Provincial Federation of Fishermen’s Guilds, described these benefits as essential for the boats, noting that long stretches without work are economically untenable. The sector continues to press for timely payments and expanded assistance, emphasizing the indispensable role of subsidies in maintaining fishing livelihoods.
EU approves ten days of disruption to fishing and directs industry to scrap boats
There is broad discontent with how subsidies are distributed. Mulet adds that some boats receive less than expected, and current hopes for 2022 disbursements are tangled in bureaucratic hurdles that complicate continuity. Source attribution: Alicante Provincial Federation
As a result, the industry seeks greater pressure on the ministry to accelerate payments and to extend aid into the next year, with a view toward accommodating a new segment being prepared for inclusion. This goal is shared by fishermen across the Valencian Community and echoed by crews in Andalusia, Murcia, the Balearic Islands and Catalonia. United in the national federation, they insist on direct meetings with ministry officials to defend their rights.
Beyond this, protest measures remain on the table while the situation remains fluid. The leadership notes that the publication of specific fishing-day cuts for the coming year will shape decisions on further actions. The overall picture is complex, and those affected face significant economic strains as the process unfolds.
Cofradías and the Consell agree on a path to fleet scrapping as a practical response. The plan involves allocating funds to retire a portion of the fleet, with a staged rollout and selective focus on wooden vessels that need basic repairs. The proposal, presented to Minister Planas by Minister Aguirre, aims to ensure remaining ships operate more effectively and with greater economic viability.
Industry leaders conclude that strategic reductions and scrapping could stabilize remaining fleets and preserve viable operations for the longer term, even as the sector continues to monitor policy developments and respond to new directives. The ongoing dialogue between guilds, regional authorities and national officials remains essential to navigating this period of transition and uncertainty.