Spain to Advocate for Fishing Quotas in Brussels That “Ensure Fleet Viability”

Madrid – Spanish Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food, Luis Planas, has assured sector advisors that he will advocate for fishing quotas that support the viability and profitability of the Spanish fleet in the upcoming negotiations in Brussels. The Council of Ministers of the European Union is set to convene on December 9 and 10.

During this meeting, the focus will be on establishing fishing possibilities for 2025 and 2026 in the Atlantic, concerning fish stocks that fall under the exclusive jurisdiction of the EU, as discussions with the United Kingdom and Norway remain ongoing.

At a recent session of the Consultative Committees on Agricultural and Fisheries Policy for Community Affairs, Planas highlighted the “complexity” of these negotiations. He emphasized Spain’s commitment to factoring in the social and economic impacts when determining Total Allowable Catches (TAC) and quotas.

In relation to the Mediterranean, the Minister acknowledged that negotiations will be particularly challenging this year, as it marks the end of a five-year transitional period under the multiannual plan. He described the proposal from the European Commission as “disappointing,” asserting that it fails to recognize the efforts of the fishing sector and jeopardizes the viability of the trawler fleet.

Consequently, Spain, along with France and Italy, has issued a joint declaration urging the European Commission to impose a moratorium on fisheries management measures in the Mediterranean for 2025. Specifically, the Spanish proposal could lead to the loss of the 556 trawlers operating along the Mediterranean coast, along with 17,000 associated jobs.

On a more positive note, Planas mentioned that quotas for the Northwest Atlantic Fisheries Organization (NAFO) have already been settled, yielding favorable outcomes for the Spanish cod fleet, particularly the Galician fleet, which will be allowed to fish again in the international waters of the Grand Banks of Newfoundland after a 32-year hiatus. He also acknowledged progress made at the recent meeting of the International Commission for the Conservation of Atlantic Tunas (ICCAT).

In terms of agricultural matters, the Minister informed advisors that the Council will discuss the regulation of plants produced using new genomic techniques (NGT). He confirmed Spain’s ongoing efforts to achieve a Council agreement that promotes the market introduction of NGT plants, especially those comparable to traditionally bred plants.

Additionally, the Hungarian presidency plans to address bioeconomic opportunities within the agricultural sector. Planas believes that the future strategy in this area should highlight the significance of a circular bioeconomy to ensure food security and enhance the efficiency, profitability, and competitiveness of agri-food production.

The upcoming Council is also expected to cover various technical topics, including the proposed regulation on the production and marketing of plant reproductive material, animal welfare regulations during transport, veterinary issues—particularly concerning vaccines—and advancements in the regulation of resilient European forests. (December 2)