Spain’s Fisheries: Common Policy, Regional Significance, and Aquaculture
Part 2
Spain and the Common Fisheries Policy
Spain joined the European Community in 1986, retaining a significant fishing potential equivalent to two-thirds of the European fleet. Upon signing the accession agreement, Spain faced stringent conditions and a seventeen-year transition period, with full integration expected by 2002.
Initially, Europe lacked a common fisheries policy. The Common Fisheries Policy (CFP) shares similarities with the Common Agricultural Policy (CAP) and encompasses four key elements:
- Resource Conservation Policy: This involves establishing annual catch rates. The quotas allocated to Spain were notably low, exacerbating existing challenges within the sector.
- Structural Policy: Aimed at enhancing fisheries structures.
- Market-Joint Organization
- Policy Access to Foreign Fishing Grounds: Achieved through agreements with third countries.
In 2002, the European Union initiated a reform of its Common Fisheries Policy. A primary objective was ensuring the sustainable development of fishing activities, considering economic, ecological, and social factors.
Since September 2008, the Common Fisheries Policy has undergone evaluation and monitoring, establishing criteria for review in 2013.
The Fishing Industry Today: Regional Significance in Spain
The Spanish fleet has undergone significant transformation, now featuring advanced technology. Many vessels operate as floating factories, coexisting with traditional inshore fleets.
Fishing locations have diversified, with catches now occurring in international waters, including the Pacific and Indian Oceans.
The volume of fish caught has decreased, transitioning Spain from an exporting nation to an importer. Concurrently, Spain is investing in research and development in aquaculture.
Key Spanish Fishing Regions
- Galicia: Remains the primary fishing region in Spain, contributing one-third of the total catch and nearly half of the employment in the sector.
- Andalusia: Possesses a long-established fishing tradition with significant socio-economic importance. A robust fleet and artisanal inshore fishing are prominent, particularly in tourist areas along the Mediterranean coast.
- Mediterranean Coast: Fishing is deeply traditional, but resource conservation is a growing concern.
- Canary Islands: Experienced a peak period from 1961 to 1980. Changes at sea deprived the islands of traditional fishing grounds, despite their excellent location and infrastructure.
Aquaculture
Aquaculture is defined as the farming of aquatic organisms, including fish, molluscs, crustaceans, and marine plants. It encompasses marine fish breeding and freshwater fish rearing, and has experienced substantial growth.
This rapid development is driven by the need to supply increasingly competitive and global food markets, as well as growing institutional awareness of the importance of protecting marine resources.
Key Aspects of Aquaculture
- Marine aquaculture is more significant than mainland aquaculture.
- The primary cultured species include golden fish, turbot, sea bass, mussels, clams, and trout.
- Galicia and Andalusia are leading communities in aquaculture, followed by Castile and León.