A study from the University of Alicante highlights the serious situation facing the Alicante fishing sector, driven by European regulations. The report from the Institute of International Economics points to a need for support to ensure the sector’s survival. The EU Demersal Plan, aimed at regulating sustainable bottom-dwelling species, allows only 125 fishing days this year, down from 240 five years ago, according to the findings. The study also notes challenges such as weak generational replacement and a high concentration of demand in primary sales at fish markets, where most landings end up in the hands of a few large buyers.
“The Valencian fishing sector, especially the Alicante fleet, which is more affected by bottom-trawling and EU restrictions, requires in-depth economic analysis like this study conducted for the Valencian Government. Such work can provide solutions and support during a pivotal moment for the sector’s survival,” stated the study coordinator and professor in the Applied Economic Analysis Department. “Fishing is not only an economic activity; it is part of our coastal landscape, our food culture, and the blue economy of the region,” she added. With the majority of the regional fishing fleet based in Alicante, the sector faces an uncertain present and future, according to the author. The report team, funded by the Regional Ministry of Agriculture, Livestock and Fisheries, includes researchers from the Institute of International Economics and other experts.
Investigators have reached out to the 21 fisheries guilds across the Community to hear firsthand their concerns and the difficulties they face. The Community’s fishing sector ranks fifth in Spain, accounting for about 6.0% of the national fleet (2022 data), and its vessels are longer on average than the national average, surpassed only by the Cantabrian and Basque fleets.
Bottom-trawling and Ports
The most significant ports by volume are Torrevieja, Castellón de la Plana, and Santa Pola, collectively handling around 43% of the Community’s landings. This activity is in clear decline, partly due to the 2020 start of the Demersal Plan for Western Mediterranean fisheries, which reduced catches and, in turn, income. The impact has mainly hit the trawler fleet, which accounts for about 39% of the Valencian fleet. By province, Alicante’s fleet was hit hardest, with about 45% engaged in bottom-trawling, representing 63% of the Community’s fishing revenue, the analysis notes.
Regarding the Demersal Plan, the Mediterranean trawl fleet targeting species such as red mullet, hake, and shrimp has reduced fishing days by about 10% in 2020, 7% in 2021, 6% in 2022, and 7% in 2023, representing a 30% drop in fishing effort. For 2024, the EU set an additional 9.5% cut, nearing the plan’s maximum cap. This creates a real threat to profitability and the long-term viability of the Community’s fishing sector, as only 125 fishing days are allowed for bottom-trawling vessels, down from 240 five years earlier.
Uncertainty
Yet that is not the only challenge facing Valencian fisheries. The report highlights other pressures such as limited generational turnover and difficulties in securing skilled labor. The impact of mandatory idle days for trawlers has created much uncertainty among workers, with periods of layoffs often without compensation. The researchers emphasize the need for proper training and recognition to meet the required nautical and fishing qualifications.
Other issues include the high concentration of demand in the first-sale markets, making it hard for smaller producers to compete. A large share of purchases comes from a small number of wholesalers, followed by major distributors. This oligopsony tends to suppress prices at the point of sale, squeezing the profitability of smaller fishermen while not delivering corresponding benefits to consumers.
Additional pressures faced by the Community’s fleet include a shrinkage in vessel numbers, reduced cargo capacity and power, the shift toward decarbonizing the fleet, competition from imported fish, and heavy bureaucracy that complicates access to subsidies. Decreasing demand for seafood, competition with recreational fishing, and illegal landings also weigh on the sector. The prohibition on tuna fishing—an abundant predator in the Mediterranean—adds to concerns about marine resource sustainability and the future of fisheries grounds.
Overall, the study recommends continued biological research and ongoing economic monitoring to balance marine resource sustainability with the sector’s financial viability. It calls for better coordination among fisheries associations, public authorities, and research centers to align policy with practical needs and long-term coastal prosperity.