The fishing fleet faces ongoing uncertainty as gear that touches the seabed becomes subject to new limits. A veto restricting fishing beyond 400 meters has been applied across 87 areas, taking effect on Sunday. The measure initially targets longline vessels, and shipowners are still adapting to the change. Complaints persist as incidents similar to the one reported on Monday highlight the moment of enforcement announced by the European Commission. Kestutis Sadauskas, deputy director of the Directorate General for Maritime Affairs and Fisheries (DG Mare), appeared before the Fisheries Committee of the European Parliament to clarify the situation and address misunderstandings. The debate quickly pitted Spanish lawmakers against the Commission, with Spain accused of not supplying sufficient data for the scientific basis of the ban. Brussels justified the restriction as grounded in a 2016 regulation, underscoring that it applies to all bottom-contact gear and is not a political act by the Commission.
In Lithuania, hopes for a regulatory review this year were dashed as Spain requested updates. The long-anticipated second ICES report, which was expected in November, will now be published in December, delaying any council decision until 2023. Virginijus Sinkevičius, Commissioner for the Environment, Oceans and Fisheries, who had recently recovered from a bike accident, attended the discussions with Sadauskas, who represented DG Mare alongside President Charlina Vitcheva during talks with Norway.
During his opening remarks, Sadauskas noted that the measure was based on the best available information, referencing the ICES assessment. He reiterated that the rule affects all gear that comes into contact with the seabed, as dictated by the 2016 regulation, and stressed that it is not a political act by the Commission. Spain’s call for clarification on areas shallower than 400 meters within the 87 polygons was acknowledged by the Lithuanian representative as possibly stemming from a single Member State’s perspective, while others saw no such limitation.
Deputies asked questions that Spain’s delegation highlighted. Spanish members accused Sadauskas of a partisan stance against the regulation. The DG Mare official admitted a lack of awareness about the socio-economic impact and acknowledged criticism from the industry and some governments. Regardless of longlining implications, the measure applies to all bottom-contact fishing methods without discrimination, he asserted.
Criticism regarding industry consultation led Sadauskas to defend the process, saying the Commission had provided the arrangement under existing procedures and that Spain’s data submission had gaps. He explained that ICES had identified issues with data but suggested Spain could provide additional information. ICES is expected to incorporate new data in its December report, which will influence reform proposals tied to next spring’s regulatory framework.
DG Mare’s aide clarified that no direct assistance packages had been planned for fleets impacted by the measure, describing such support as unavailable in concrete terms. The assistant emphasized that the regulation aims to prevent selective impacts and that the fisheries in Galicia would experience a 75 percent reduction in bottom-longline areas, a point Spain had warned against. The dispute continues as stakeholders weigh economic consequences against conservation goals.
Adaptation time for the fleet
Basilio Otero, leader of the National Federation of Fishermen’s Guilds and head of the port of Burela (Lugo), warned that Galician vessels could be replaced by outside fishers as a consequence of the 87-area bottom-fishing veto. He described the industry as currently complying with regulations and noted that no ships were grounded, though some captains chose to wait and observe the situation at sea before acting. He described a strategy of shifting schedules and entry times for ships in certain locations, hoping the fleet can adapt without lasting disruption.