Challenges in Spanish Fisheries and Raw Materials

Structural Problems of Spanish Fisheries

• The working population in fishing numbered 55,700 people in 2002 and is defined by its decline and aging.

• The decline is attributed to the fishing crisis due to depletion of fish stocks, the mechanization of work in large vessels, and the reduction of fishing licenses. The northwest region has more cash.

• Aging affects the majority of the population working in the artisanal fleet.

Spanish Fishing Fleet Problems

• Nowadays, its size is excessive. Until 1977, it grew significantly, favored by the large increase in demand for fish which resulted from improved purchasing power, the low price of fuel, free access to international fishing grounds, and the policy developed at the OECD in 1960, which mainly affected the offshore and high-altitude fleet (Law of fisheries protection and renewal). But with the oil crisis (1975) and the establishment of EEZ fishing up to 200 miles (1982), its size proved to be excessive in relation to fishing possibilities. Furthermore, previous growth was not rational, as it was based on old practices.

• There is an excessive number of boats of small tonnage, technologically outdated, which cannot stray too far from the coast, and contribute to the overexploitation of national fish stocks.

Raw Materials

Raw materials are the resources from which finished or semi-processed products are obtained.

Raw materials come from organic activities like agriculture, forestry, or livestock.

Raw materials are extracted from mineral deposits, which are high concentrations of minerals. Since the late nineteenth century, mining faces significant problems. The most important problems are depleted reserves and the conclusion that today's mineral wealth is not significant. In many cases, products are of low quality, mineralization is irregular, and the demand creates business minifundismo, making it unprofitable to operate.

Types of Mineral Resources

• Metallic minerals are found in certain areas of the Hercynian base or its borders. Their main destination is the basic industry and transformation industry.

• Non-metallic minerals are found in Paleozoic formations and Tertiary basins. They are used in the construction and chemical industries.

• Industrial rocks are distributed very differently and are used in construction.

National mineral production is insufficient for self-sufficiency, which requires recourse to foreign trade, which is deficient in both metal ores and non-metallic industrial rocks. These do not meet domestic demand (excluding marble). The total value of exports is much lower than imports.