Spanish Fishing: Zones, Activity, Crisis, and Aquaculture

Posted on Dec 5, 2024 in Geography

The Spaces of Fishing

1. The Fishing Area

The Spanish fishing area, or national fishing area, extends from the coast to 200 nautical miles, delimiting the Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ) fisheries, the area over which Spain has exclusive fishing rights. They are organized into eight regions: Northwest, Cantabria, North Winds, Levant, Southern Mediterranean, South Atlantic, Balearic Islands, and Canary Islands.

2. Fishing Activity

The characteristic features of fishing activity are:

  • The main destination is human consumption fisheries. The fresh market dominates, but various forms of industrial transformation have grown: freezing, preserving, salting, and reduction.
  • The most important fishing regions for their catch and value are Galician, followed by other Atlantic regions.
  • Fish species account for over 90% of the catch; the rest are mollusks and crustaceans.
  • The fishing fleet consists of an artisanal fleet fishing in the national fishing area using traditional techniques and a high-seas fleet fishing on grounds outside the EEZ.
  • Fish landed by the national fisheries are decreasing due to depletion.

3. The Fisheries Crisis

3.1. Indicators of Crisis

The main indicators of the crisis are threefold:

  • The decline of the population engaged in fishing.
  • The decline in its contribution to GDP.
  • The fishing trade is highly deficient due to the need to import large quantities of fish for consumption and increased purchases of prepared or preserved fish.

3.2. Problems and Fisheries Policy

Spanish fisheries face serious problems addressed through a fisheries policy involving:

  • The European Union, which sets general guidelines summarized in competitiveness and sustainability.
  • The Spanish government, which prepares general planning and specific fisheries guidelines based on European directives.
  • The Autonomous Communities, which have jurisdiction over their coastal waters, shellfish, and marine farming.

3.2.1. The Problem of Fisheries

Fishing takes place on grounds suitable for setting and pulling nets.

  • The country offers modest fishery resources because the continental shelf is narrow, and overexploitation and pollution have depleted resources.
  • Community grounds are subject to a quota system to ensure the sustainability of catches, limiting the maximum quantity that can be caught.
  • International fishing faces restrictions, including the establishment of Exclusive Economic Zones.

3.2.2. Demographic Problems

The population employed in fishing is low, aged, and has little education. To address these issues:

  • Promote competitiveness and diversification of the sector.
  • Grant aid for young fishermen to purchase their first boat.
  • Improve vocational training and create new degrees.

3.2.3. Economic Problems

The fishing fleet is too large in relation to fishing opportunities due to higher oil prices and the introduction of Exclusive Economic Zones. Restructuring measures include:

  • Reducing the size of the fleet.
  • Renovating and modernizing the fleet.

There is little economic diversification in fishing areas and insufficient use of telecommunications and new technology. It is necessary to improve the processing and marketing of fishery products, increase farmers’ participation in these activities, and adopt new safety and animal welfare standards established by the European Union. We must respond to the quality requirements of demand with measures such as brand quality and standardization of fishery products.

3.2.4. Social Problems

Many fishing areas affected by sector restructuring face quality-of-life issues. To address this:

  • Upgrade fisheries infrastructure by improving fisheries, promoting aquaculture, and providing grants for fishing maintenance.
  • Promote economic diversification by attracting other investments and retraining fishermen.

3.2.5. Environmental Issues

Fishing activity generates environmental changes:

  • Overexploitation of fisheries resources due to overfishing and the use of indiscriminate fishing gear, threatening the extinction of some species.
  • Water pollution due to fuel spills from ships.

4. Aquaculture

Aquaculture is the farming of aquatic plant and animal species, marine or freshwater.

Marine aquaculture on the Cantabrian coast is mussel-oriented, focusing on Galicia. Oysters, clams, and cockles are cultivated to a lesser extent. Inland freshwater aquaculture focuses on rainbow trout produced in Galicia, Catalonia, and Castile. Crabs, carp, and sturgeon are raised to a lesser extent.