Across the Valencian Community, the fishing sector stands as a vital pillar not only for its contribution to nutrition but also for its cultural and economic roots along the coast. It anchors local gastronomy and supports coastal communities with a long-standing maritime heritage that shapes everyday life in the region.
Among the Valencian ports, Alicante dominates the sector in volume and availability. In 2022, Alicante accounted for the largest share of regional catches and supplies, representing a little over half of the community’s output by volume and value. The port system also reflects a robust organizational structure, with thirteen of the community’s twenty-one fishing brotherhoods active in the area. The markets in cities such as Alicante, Altea, Benidorm, Calp, Dénia, El Campello, Guardamar del Segura, Xàbia, Moraira, Santa Pola, Tabarca, Torrevieja, and Villajoyosa handle fish for ten of the community’s eighteen markets, underscoring a dense network of marketing channels.
Since 2020, as the European Union implemented the Western Mediterranean Demersal Plan, landings have faced downward pressure. The plan targeted the trawler fleet, a cornerstone for several Alicante ports, and required reductions in annual fishing days. The reductions scaled from ten percent in 2020 down to seven, six, and seven percent in the subsequent two to four years, culminating in a cumulative drop of about thirty percent in fishing effort during the plan’s first phase. The five-year schedule stretches from 2020 to 2024, with ongoing negotiation over the amount of reductions needed in 2024. EU regulations indicate a ten percent cut in the first year followed by a ceiling of roughly thirty percent, though member states disagree on whether forty percent in total is attainable or mandatory. The negotiations for 2024 hinge on what limit might be offered for that year and how it will affect the sector.
The most affected species under this framework include red mullet, red shrimp, white shrimp, hake, and crayfish. Their high market value adds to the pressure, as they are economically important to fishermen and value chains alike.
Yet the Alicante fishing industry faces more than regulatory tightening. It confronts a complex mix of supranational, national, and regional rules that shape operations for the trawler fleet and other methods. The sector’s survival and future profitability remain uncertain as a result of multiple intertwined challenges that affect both the economy and social fabric of coastal towns.
A notable hurdle is the lack of generational renewal and the difficulty of attracting new workers. Poor working conditions, aging populations, scant female participation, and job insecurity from fleet reductions contribute to anxiety among crew and fishing staff. The period of compulsory unemployment days for the trawler fleet compounded the problem, leaving workers with little recourse when unemployment benefits lapse. Maritime and fishing qualifications required for professional work can be a barrier, with limited public training options and often a need to pursue private courses.
Marketing dynamics compound stress in the value chain. Initial sales in Valencian markets are dominated by large wholesalers who absorb about seven-tenths of the volume, while a smaller share moves through major distributors such as major supermarkets. The remainder goes through the retail channel, Horeca outlets, and other buyers. This creates an oligopsonistic market where concentrated demand shapes prices, squeezing margins for suppliers without delivering corresponding gains to consumers.
Profitability has sagged in recent years. Between 2017 and 2021, many Valencian fishing companies saw declines in earnings as costs climbed, catches fluctuated, and biological pauses interrupted steady production. These pressures threaten the sector’s economic sustainability and reflect a broader set of forces at play in the regional economy.
The Alicante fleet itself accounts for almost half of the Valencian fleet and concentrates activity in key ports such as Santa Pola, Villajoyosa, Dénia, Calp, Xàbia, and Altea. Yet overall capacity has shrunk markedly: the number of vessels fell significantly from 822 in 2006 to 521 in 2022, while storage capacity and engine power also declined. Looking ahead, the sector faces a transition mandated by the European Green Deal, which emphasizes decarbonization and the adoption of energy-efficient, sustainable ships. This transition will require substantial investments, new technologies, and policy support to balance fleet expansion limits under the Common Fisheries Policy with the need for more capable vessels.
The sector also contends with external competition from lower-cost imports of fresh fish, bureaucratic hurdles in securing subsidies, and shifting demand patterns. Recreational fishing and restrictions on certain high-predator species such as tuna influence supply dynamics. Environmental concerns about marine resource sustainability and climate-driven shifts in species distribution add to uncertainty about future fishing grounds. The cumulative effect is a sector facing headwinds that require coordinated, science-based responses to preserve resources while maintaining economic viability.
For a resilient future, closer cooperation among brotherhoods, public fisheries authorities, research centers, and universities is essential. Coordinated efforts in marine science and bioeconomic planning can illuminate pathways to sustain resources and livelihoods alike. A thoughtful strategy will need to support the transition toward modern, energy-efficient fleets, increase the availability of qualified workers, and streamline access to subsidies and training.
Ultimately, the goal is a more sustainable Valencian blue economy that preserves food security, fuels regional gastronomy, and sustains coastal communities that have long depended on the sea. The sector’s strength lies in its traditions and its capacity to adapt to economic, regulatory, and environmental realities while continuing to serve as a cornerstone of Valencian identity and coastal life.