On 9 October 2022 a regulation linked to the Fisheries Commission came into force, impacting bottom fishing in more than 16,400 square kilometers of community waters. This move identifies 87 areas where vulnerable marine ecosystems are known or believed to exist. Critics worry that top officials may push bottom trawling and the use of long-lines, predominantly by Galician fleets, into patterns that could harm seabed habitats. Investigative reporting by Faro from the Prensa Ibérica group has shown that nearly half of these areas do not reach depths of 400 meters, which challenges the regulation’s potential for manipulation. The reporting also highlighted two serious procedural issues: the veto was applied without a socioeconomic impact analysis and without data on the long footprint left on the seafloor. The STECF, the Fisheries Scientific, Technical and Economic Committee, is tasked with evaluating the regulation’s economic and coastal impact and is not expected to publish its assessment until the second week of July. This pause has been a setback for an industry that has experienced weak captures and painful revenue since the regulation was announced.
In a written question, popular MEP Francisco Millán Mon pressed the commissioner to clarify the pending STECF opinion. The Commission had already confirmed that the Committee was asked to review the implementing regulations, but no date was given for the opinion. It was stated that STECF’s findings, covering economic, social and employment aspects, would be published in the weeks after the plenary meeting in July 2023. If August turns out to be a holiday period in Brussels, the expected delay could extend the timeline for an economic impact assessment on bottom fishing by more than a year from the initial announcement on September 15, 2022.
Analysts describe the setback as significant for the fleet, which has faced one of the worst years in terms of landings and revenue in the historic record. The regulatory framework was based on work from international scientists, yet the broader economic implications remain largely unknown. The socioeconomic dimensions are still unclear as some fishermen regularly operate in specific zones, and even modest fishing effort can prove important to their livelihoods. The 248-page ICES report notes major gaps in data, especially regarding vulnerable marine ecosystems and the pressures they face.
Another critical point concerns the equal treatment of mobile gear such as trawlers and stationary gear like longlines. The impact of fixed gear on the seabed has not been fully evaluated, and the reliability of measuring the associated ecological effort remains contested. Scientists point out that the benthic footprint and the effects of these fishing practices are largely unknown, complicating attempts to quantify damage or adopt adequate safeguards. The regulation’s impact touches communities along the coast of Lugo and the port of Vigo, emphasizing the broader social and economic stakes for local fisheries.
This situation formed the basis for Spain’s appeal to the General Court of the European Union, arguing that the lack of analysis on fixed gear in deep waters conflicts with basic regulatory principles and the proportionality requirement. The case also questions the identification of areas where the impact of fixed gear in deep water is established or probable. In the same period, Galician markets recorded 37,281 tonnes of fish valued at just over 100 million euros, marking the lowest figures on record for comparable timeframes.