Fishing Grounds: National, Community, and International
Fishing Regions: National, Community, and International
National, community, and international fishing regions:
The fishing activity takes place in any of these regions, setting or pulling. Problems include national and international restrictions and depletion of fishing grounds in community and international waters.
National Fishing Grounds
These are inshore and coastal fishing grounds. The primary operation performed supplies a significant national demand, mostly carried out by artisanal fleets, integrated by small boats that do not venture far from the coast.
Community Fishing Grounds
These are subject to yearly quotas set by the EU, where only a maximum quantity can be fished. This quantity is established and distributed among authorized boats via licenses.
International Fishing Grounds
Since 1974, a process began to expand the fishing area to 200 miles from the coast. The Spanish fishing fleet had to agree to fishing agreements with other countries and had to reduce catches. Deep-sea fishing is highly technical.
The First Highly Technical Fishing Fleet
Its size increased due to excessive demand, capital, lower fuel prices, free access to international fishing grounds, and modernization policies in 1960. However, with the rise in oil prices and the establishment of the 200-mile limit, its size became excessive.
Additionally, old ships were not replaced with new ones and continued in use.
A large number of small tonnage boats, outdated and close to the coast, contribute to the exploitation of national fishing grounds.
Workforce
Defined by its decline and aging. The decline is due to the artisanal fishing crisis, exhaustion of fishing grounds, and reduction of licenses. Aging affects most people working in the artisanal fleet.
Transformations in the Fishing Sector (20th-21st Century)
There was an expansive period from 1900-1960, limited by the World Wars and the Spanish Civil War, during which activity was dangerous. From 1960-1970, the sector modernized through state subsidies for technological renovation and the emergence of freezer boats. In 1973, the energy crisis impacted fishing, leading to overexploitation of national fishing grounds to maintain the sector. In 1974, the 200-mile marine zone was introduced, ratified by the UN in 1982, necessitating restructuring of the fleet in the 1980s.
From 1986-2000, directives of the Common Fisheries Policy of the EU (established in 1983) aimed to:
- Protect species.
- Ensure a standard of living for the fishing population.
- Guarantee a fair price for fish.
- Supply consumer products and principal industries.
Coordinated actions included regulating access to fishing grounds of member states and second countries. Measures were taken to restructure the sector through fleet modernization, training of workers, and promotion of alternative studies. Spain needed a transitional period to integrate into the EU fisheries policy. After this, access to fishing grounds was limited, catches were reduced, biological breaks were introduced, and incentives were given for abandonment and retirement for older workers.
Efforts were made to recover national fishing grounds, establish minimum catch sizes, and attempt to repopulate marine species.
Industrial Production
Most production is for fresh fish, with a smaller portion for industrial processing (canned, salted, or frozen).
Enterprises engaged in the fishing industry are generally small or medium-sized, with a predominantly female workforce, and located close to fishing areas. They operate 20% of production, of which ¾ are fish and other shellfish.