The Mediterranean fishing sector has received the news with some caution. of the latest change in the catch limits for red shrimp, one of the most valued species in the area. Recently, the Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food has announced through the Official State Gazette (BOE) the update of the annual quota for this shellfish, a measure that directly influences the planning and economic prospects of the fleet.
Thanks to an agreement reached with France and the use of the reserve fund, Authorized vessels will be able to catch a total of 45,9 tons more of red shrimp during the current year.This adjustment, although welcomed in a sector hit hard by cuts in recent years, has sparked debate among fishermen and fishing associations, who consider the increase insufficient to reverse the restrictive trend imposed by European authorities.
New allocation of red shrimp quota
The official resolution published in the BOE affects 286 vessels operating under the bottom trawling modality. in Mediterranean waters and with a recent history of catches. The distribution of the additional 45,9 tons is divided into two parts: 35,9 tonnes derived from a direct quota exchange with France, after intense negotiations between both countries, and others 10 tons extracted from the reserve fund itself Spanish.
Therefore, authorized vessels will be able to benefit from this extension, which, according to the Ministry, will allow for better organization of fishing campaigns, especially during peak demand in the summer and Christmas months. For shipowners, this opens up opportunities for greater planning and greater flexibility in deciding when to go fishing and how to allocate quotas.
The new system also introduces the option of sharing catch limits between vessels in the same grouping., which facilitates operational management and can help optimize landings, preventing part of the granted quota from being wasted due to a lack of days or overlapping limits between kilos and days.
Reactions in the fishing sector
Despite the announced increase, Fishermen do not hide their disappointment at figures that they consider insufficient.Several representatives of fishing guilds and associations, both in Andalusia and the Valencian Community and the Balearic Islands, have stated that the extension only means one more week of fishing for many vessels, especially in ports such as AlmerÃa, Garrucha, Adra, and those on the Alicante coast.
For example, the Alicante fleet will be able to fish around ten additional tons, but the previous cut was even higher, so the net balance isn't particularly positive. The decline in red shrimp catches directly affects the sector's income, which relies heavily on this product at the fish market and in the restaurant industry.
In Menorca, trawlers have received an extra 2.000 kilos for this year, distributed between ports such as Mahon and Ciutadella. However, The mayoral bosses criticize the complexity of the quotas and the lack of clarity in the criteria used for its distribution, questioning the coherence between scientific recommendations and political decisions.
Context: cuts, regulations and future prospects
For years, red shrimp fishing in the Mediterranean has been marked by restrictions to ensure the sustainability of fishing groundsEuropean regulations have been tightening catch limits and fishing days, increasing the permitted 240 days five years ago to the current 133. If the cut proposed by the EU for 2025 had been applied, only 27 days would have been allowed, a figure that is unfeasible for the sector..
The latest adjustment includes a total reduction of 10% compared to the previous year, plus an additional 4% allocated to a common reserve to deal with occasional excesses or by-catches. These measures, along with protests and requests for greater flexibility from shipowners, reflect the perception that Fishing grounds have proven to be recovered thanks to closed seasons and more sustainable fishing methods..
Fishermen have also had to adapt to new technical requirements, such as the mandatory change to larger nets, which has negatively impacted actual catches and the sector's profitability.
The Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food remains committed to responsible resource management and a more predictable model for the sector. However, Fishermen's representatives believe that the measures remain only temporary relief., without addressing the root causes of the structural difficulties of the red shrimp fishery in the Mediterranean.