The new river fishing season in Galicia begins under an unprecedented decision: a total ban on salmon fishing in all Galician rivers . The season opens on Sunday, March 15th, a day with a forecast of rain, and will generally run until July 31st.
This restriction falls under the order regulating fishing in Galician inland waters, published in the Official Gazette of Galicia (DOG) last December. The text establishes open seasons, permitted and prohibited species, as well as fishing methods, with particular attention to the conservation of Atlantic salmon given the sharp decline in its populations.
An unprecedented total ban on salmon fishing in Galician rivers
The most striking measure in the new regulations is the complete ban on Atlantic salmon fishing for the entire season in Galician rivers. The Galician government (Xunta) is adopting this decision for the first time ever, after confirming that recent abundance indicators show very low numbers of breeding salmon.
According to the order from the Ministry of Environment and Climate Change, the regional administration chooses to prioritize the recovery of the species , assuming that fishing pressure, added to other factors such as habitat deterioration or obstacles in the riverbeds, compromises the viability of salmon populations in the medium term.
This general ban has direct consequences for traditionally salmon-producing rivers like the Ulla, the Eo, and the Landro, where not a single salmon can be caught . In the case of the Eo, which is managed jointly with Asturias, a unique situation arises: while salmon fishing is completely prohibited in the Galician section, a very small quota is set for the entire season on the Asturian side.
The decision has been hailed as a landmark order, as it marks the first time Galicia has issued a general protection order for the species in all its waterways. On a social level, it also entails the suspension of traditional salmon-related competitions and activities, such as the classic contest that was part of the Festa da Troita (Trout Festival) in A Pontenova.
Scientific monitoring and control of salmon populations
The fishing ban doesn't come alone. It's accompanied by a strengthening of scientific monitoring measures for salmon populations , in order to assess the effectiveness of the ban and to gain a more precise understanding of the species' actual situation in Galician rivers.
The Galician government will continue using the automatic counters already installed on the Ulla, Eo, and Landro rivers. These devices record the movement of adult salmon upstream. Thanks to this equipment, continuous data is obtained on the number of salmon entering the spawning grounds.
Furthermore, the Ximonde Station on the Ulla River remains operational . This reference center has been conducting monitoring and research on the species since 1993. It has become a key resource for understanding the evolution of salmon populations in Galicia, both in terms of numbers and age structure.
In the remaining rivers where there are no automatic meters, they are programmed inventories de peces by electrofishingThis technique, applied by specialized personnel, allows the detection of juvenile salmon in different sections and the assessment of the reproductive success of populations, without this implying captures for recreational purposes.
The joint objective of these monitoring programs is to have solid information for future management , so that the decision to maintain, soften or lift the ban can be based on data and not just on perceptions or occasional experiences of fishermen.
General calendar of the river fishing season
Beyond salmon, the order published in the DOG (Official Gazette of Galicia) defines in detail the inland fishing calendar in Galicia for the main species. The general season begins on March 15 and runs until July 31, although there are numerous exceptions depending on the type of water and the fish.
In the case of trout , the regular season runs from March 15 to July 31. Excluded from these dates are bodies of water considered salmonids, sea trout, and those classified as mountainous, where the opening is delayed until May 1, thus seeking better protection of populations in more sensitive areas.
Intensive fishing reserves and sections managed under catch-and-release fishing regulations have extended their activity until September 30th. In reserves with agreements, the season is also generally extended until that same date, but only under catch- and-release conditions, meaning all catches must be returned.
For sea trout , regulations establish a general season from May 1st to July 31st, with the possibility of extending fishing until September 30th in certain specific fishing areas. As for lamprey , its capture is only authorized in the Tea and Ulla rivers, where this species maintains a strong traditional and gastronomic significance.
A specific section is also planned for the shad in the Ulla River: fishing is allowed between the Couso dam and the mouth, from May 1st to June 7th, a limited period that seeks to reconcile recreational use with the conservation of the resource.
Rules on authorized prohibited and invasive species
Galician regulations don't just set dates; they also detail which species can be fished and which are completely prohibited to protect their conservation . Within this latter group, in addition to salmon, are the European crayfish, the Iberian nase, the three-spined stickleback, the shad, and the eel.
In the case of eels and some other species, very specific exceptions are permitted , linked to activities of ethnographic or gastronomic interest. One example is traditional fishing in the Miño River as it flows through the municipalities of PortomarÃn, O Páramo, Paradela, and GuntÃn, as well as specific management plans in already defined areas where the river meets the sea.
At the same time, the order is adapted to the Spanish Catalogue of Invasive Alien Species . This section authorizes the capture of certain species listed as invasive, precisely with the aim of limiting their spread and competition with native fauna.
Among the invasive species that can be fished are the largemouth bass, carp, American crayfish, and California crayfish . The regulations state that the remaining species included in the state catalog are prohibited, thus reinforcing a management approach that seeks to control their ecological impact.
This combination of prohibitions and authorizations ultimately aims to balance recreational activity with the need to maintain river ecosystems in good condition, reducing pressure on the most vulnerable native species.
Fishing days, baits and methods: this is how fishing will be allowed in Galicia
The order also specifies in detail how, when, and with what fishing is permitted. Regarding fishing days , it establishes that, generally, Mondays will be closed to fishing, unless they coincide with national or regional holidays, in which case they may be considered open days depending on the authorized fishing method.
Thursdays are reserved as working days exclusively for catch and release fishing in all bodies of water, with the same exception: if Thursday is a public holiday, the fishing regime corresponding to each section will apply, as set out in the order itself.
Regarding the feedlotsThe regulations distinguish between natural and artificial baits. Natural baits are generally permitted, except for any type of bait that may be used for other purposes. roe de peces and natural fishwhich are prohibited. In salmon waters the restriction is more severe: natural baits of any kind are not allowed.
Regarding artificial feeders , the use of artificial flies, spoons, swivels, and similar lures or fish is permitted. In salmon waters, spoons must meet a specific size requirement: a maximum of 6,5 centimeters measured between the upper ring and the bend of the hook, to minimize damage and unwanted catches.
In catch- and-release fishing , the regulations are even more restrictive: only artificial lures with a single barbless hook are permitted, and natural bait is completely prohibited. All catches must be returned to the water immediately, and no fish may be kept, even if caught in a different section or on a different day.
The role of trout and sea trout in a salmon-less season
With salmon out of the running, trout become the star of the season in Galician rivers. There are currently around 47.000 valid freshwater fishing licenses in Galicia, a significant number, although far lower than the approximately 100,000 licenses issued a few decades ago. For anglers, it is important to declare their recreational catches.
For trout, the general rule allows the capture of up to six specimens per person per day , with a minimum size of 19 centimeters, although there are exceptions in some rivers and sections. A significant example is the Eo River, shared with Asturias, where the minimum size is raised to 25 centimeters and the daily limit is reduced to four fish per angler.
The sea trout also gains importance in this new scenario, although its season is delayed until May 1st, extending until the end of July or, in certain fishing areas, until September 30th. This adjustment aims to reduce pressure on the populations during the most critical months of the biological cycle.
The reality, however, is that catch records have been falling year after year , something that many fishermen attribute to a mix of factors: from the progressive disappearance of rural areas and changes in land use, to the presence of predators such as the cormorant or alterations in riverbeds.
In this context, voices from the sector are calling for a management approach based on scientific criteria , rather than prohibiting or limiting, and listening to biologists and experts who insist on the importance of conserving the largest trout, considered the main breeders, and restoring the river habitat to guarantee sufficient food and shelter.
The combination of a total salmon fishing ban , strict regulations for sensitive species, and an expansion of catch-and-release sections is redefining how river fishing is understood in Galicia. While fishing remains popular, the rivers are no longer what they once were, and it is becoming increasingly clear that without sustained management, the window for reversing declining populations will shrink.
