Fishing activity in Conil de la Frontera is going through a difficult phase, with a sustained decline in catches that has nearly halved in less than ten years. According to the diagnosis released by the OPP72, the decline in production has reached 48,8% between 2015 and 2024, a deterioration that questions the continuity of the local artisan model.
The report, qualified by the entity of situation of maximum gravity, also warns that 2025 is shaping up to be one of the worst years on record, with sharp declines in both downloaded volume and revenue, a scenario that compromises the livelihood of more than 200 families linked to the Conil fleet.
A decade in figures
The organization's historical data reflects a decline in production since 711.829 kilos (2015) to 364.632 kilos (2024)The trend is clear: fewer products at the fish market and more unpredictable working hours, with direct impacts on the stability of the fishing industry.
In economic terms, the market has partially resisted thanks to the push of the prices in first sale, but the total turnover has not escaped the fall: it goes from 4.569.093,26 Euros in 2015 to 3.876.102,13 Euros in 2024. This cut is equivalent to a decrease of 15,17%, in other words, 692.991,13 euros less compared to the beginning of the period analyzed.
The OPP72 emphasizes that the improvement in prices has cushioned the blow, but not enough to offset the collapse in catches. In practice, the lost volume weighs more that the upward adjustment in the first sale, hence the deterioration in turnover.
What is behind the collapse
The diagnosis attributes the decline to a set of environmental and biological factors that complicate operations and modify resource patterns. The OPP72 identifies three major pressure vectors that explain the change of cycle in the zone:
- Invasive Asian algae: It gets tangled in the gear, weighs down the nets and drastically reduces the effectiveness of the outings.
- Changes resulting from climate change: They disrupt cycles, habitats and migrations, reducing the availability of target species.
- Stable presence of bluefin tuna: acts as a permanent predator on the coast and worsens the ecological and economic balance for the artisanal fleet.
The consequences are felt at the dock: shipowners assume fixed and variable costs on the rise (fuel, bait, tackle, policies or quotes), while landings fall and uncertainty grows with each tide.
These are not isolated cases. Vessels such as New Bartolito, My Girl Soledad, My New Suazo Bridge o Predator 2 have returned with work lost due to algae buildup in their arts, illustrating the material and economic impact of this invasion on the daily life of the sector.
Urgent demands and measures
Given this situation, the OPP72 calls on the administrations to provide a coordinated and specific response that includes management tools adapted to the current context. The objective, they explain, is ensure the viability of artisanal fishing and sustain the socioeconomic fabric that depends on it.
- Asian Seaweed Management Program designed with direct participation of the fishing sector.
- Climate change adaptation policies with real impact on arts, calendars and fishing areas.
- Specific regulation of bluefin tuna and consideration of artisans in the distribution of quotas.
- Direct and agile financial support to alleviate cost pressure and stabilize revenues.
The organization insists that the situation demands fast and effective responses, because the indicators show a notable deterioration and a high level of uncertainty about how to face the immediate future if action is not taken quickly.
With accumulated production declines, falling revenues and the impact of external factors that are difficult to manage from the dock, the Conil sector is facing a structural challenge: sustain the artisanal fishing that has defined the town for generations and adapt it to a changing environment without losing its essence or its ability to generate employment.