The Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food has approved a new management plan for purse seine fishing in the Spanish Mediterranean, which responds to the need to continue advancing in sustainable fisheries management, within the objectives of the Common Fisheries Policy.
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In the absence of a multi-annual community plan (unlike what happens with demersal fishing in the western Mediterranean), or an international plan of the General Fisheries Commission for the Mediterranean (GFCM), it is Spain's responsibility to establish the necessary measures to the sustainable management of the fishing resources exploited by the Spanish purse seine fleet in the Mediterranean.
This plan focuses on two main species that this fleet catches, the anchovy and the sardine.
Through separate scientific evaluations based on the GFCM geographical subareas, different measures adapted to the reality of each area have been established, such as catch caps per vessel or the increase in some minimum sizes, with some flexibility and space-time closures that can be modified based on the evolution of the populations.
To this end, technical meetings will be held to monitor the application of the plan, with the participation of interested parties.
In addition, the list of species authorized to capture through this modality is updated and includes limited fishing periods for some of them, as well as the conditions for the development of the activity, in terms of minimum funds or distance from the coast, and technical measures as the dimensions of the equipment.
In the same way, advances are incorporated in relation to the use of lighting devices for the activity, more modern and efficient, and also with the activity for the protection and conservation of habitats.
The management plan is applied as of July 25, and will have an initial validity until December 31, 2027, although it may be reviewed, modified or extended.
The ministerial order that approves this plan, published in the Official State Gazette on July 24, is the result of a long consultation process, begun in 2020, with the fishing sector and the autonomous communities, as well as with the advice of Spanish scientific institutes.
In this way, it responds to the request of the European Commission to update the regulations previously in force, which dates from 2011 and 2012.
With this initiative, the Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food demonstrates its commitment to responsible management of fishing resources, based on a comprehensive vision of sustainability in its environmental, social and economic aspects, recognized in the Common Fisheries Policy and in the Law on sustainable fishing and fishing research, recently approved. ■