Crisis and Transformations in the Spanish Countryside: Fisheries, Agriculture, and Livestock
The Crises and Transformations in Rural Spain
Demographic, Economic, and Environmental Issues
The Spanish countryside faces numerous challenges, including:
- Demographic decline: An aging and shrinking rural population with limited skills.
- Economic stagnation: Over-reliance on agricultural activities and limited diversification.
- Environmental degradation: Deforestation, soil erosion, overfishing, and water pollution.
The agricultural sector’s contribution to GDP has decreased to 3%, and its share of foreign trade has also declined, despite increases in the absolute value of both exports and imports. The sector needs to adapt to changing demands and dietary habits, as well as the Common Agricultural Policy (CAP).
The Fishing Industry in Decline
Fishing, a traditional economic activity in Spain, has diminished in importance nationally, though it remains vital in regions like Galicia. The sector faces several key problems:
- A declining and aging active population.
- A technologically outdated coastal fleet.
- Overfishing in national waters, leading to resource depletion.
Despite these challenges, Spain remains a major player in global fishing, both in fleet size and volume of catches. The productivity of fishing grounds varies significantly, with the Galician coast being far more productive than the Mediterranean.
Fishing Practices and Markets
Fresh consumption remains the primary destination for fish, but other forms of consumption are increasing. The majority of catches consist of fish, molluscs, and crustaceans. Fishermen typically sell their catches at fish markets, where businesses handle storage, preservation, transportation, and marketing.
Fisheries Management within the EU
Spain’s entry into the European Economic Community (EEC) brought new fishing regulations, including:
- Regulating access to fishing grounds for member states and through agreements with third countries (barter, trade, and fishing concessions in exchange for financial aid).
- Addressing socio-economic aspects through market regulation, guide prices, and sector restructuring measures.
- Managing environmental concerns by limiting catches to prevent overfishing.
Modern Agricultural and Livestock Practices
Aquaculture
Aquaculture, the controlled farming of aquatic organisms in designated marine and river areas, is a growing sector.
Part-Time Aquaculture
This involves combining aquaculture with work in other sectors like industry, construction, or services.
Greenhouse Agriculture
This system uses plastic covers to create warmer and more humid conditions, accelerating plant growth.
Extensive Agriculture
This approach prioritizes large-scale, low-cost production using machinery and minimal labor.
Intensive Agriculture
Practiced where land is scarce and expensive, this method maximizes production in limited spaces through techniques like heavy fertilizer use.
Fallow
Leaving land fallow for a year allows the soil to regenerate and recover nutrients.
Fishing Grounds (Caladero)
These are designated areas for fishing, with the northwest being the most important in Spain.
Land Consolidation
This process combines small, scattered land parcels into larger, more manageable units.
Gravel-Mulched Crops
This technique involves covering fertile soil with a layer of gravel to reduce water evaporation.
Extensive Livestock Farming
Common in northern Spain, this system relies on natural pastures and produces lower yields but higher quality products.
Intensive Livestock Farming
Also known as industrial farming, this method involves housing livestock, feeding them prepared feed, and utilizing advanced genetic control techniques.