Spain's Fisheries Policy: Adapting to EU Membership

The Fisheries Policy: Regulation and Conversion

Environmental problems arise from overfishing and water pollution caused by agricultural, urban, industrial, and accidental or intentional oil discharges. To address fishing challenges, Spain has implemented a policy of sectoral regulation and conversion, aligning with EU accession and the Common Fisheries Policy. This has resulted in:

• Spain's integration into the EU internal market, subject to common pricing for fish products.
• Trade liberalization with European partners through the elimination of duties over transitional periods.
• Adoption of EU measures for conversion and environmental protection.

EU Fishing Regulations

Access to Fishing Grounds

The European Union regulates access to Spanish fishing grounds and manages fisheries with other countries through agreements.

Structural Adjustment and Conversion

The EU has mandated a structural adjustment policy for Spain to diversify and modernize its fleet and develop new activities in affected areas. Key measures include:

• Reducing fleet size and adjusting gear to meet present and future access requirements.
• Transferring excess capacity to joint ventures with other fishing nations.
• Renewing and modernizing the fleet and improving port facilities.
• Providing aid to regions negatively impacted by the conversion to develop infrastructure, attract investment, and train displaced workers.
• Promoting maritime culture and research through the Spanish Institute of Oceanography.

Freshwater aquaculture thrives with over 2,000 fish farms engaged in diverse activities, including fish and crustacean farming, and producing eggs and animals for restocking. Marine aquaculture focuses primarily on shellfish.

Environmental Protection Policy

Measures addressing environmental problems like overfishing and pollution include:

• Establishing quotas and restricting or prohibiting certain fishing gear.
• Implementing national fisheries recovery measures such as maritime afforestation.
• Enforcing minimum fish sizes and increasing surveillance against pollution.