Spain's Fishing Industry: Landings, Trade, and Consumption

Spanish Fishing Activity: Coastal Fleets and Landings

More than two-thirds of the fish landed comes from coastal fleets. While surface volume is high, species from the seabed (fondo) predominate in economic value.

The Atlantic area is richer and more productive than the Mediterranean. Galicia is the most important region, concentrating more than half of the total captured landings. The volume [in the Mediterranean] is far below the Atlantic, highlighting [the importance of the region around] Tramontana.

The most important ports are:

• Vigo
• Las Palmas
• A Coruña
• Tickets (Port)
• Algeciras
• Huelva
• Cádiz (Atlantic)
• Barbate

Domestic and International Fishing Grounds

Spanish fishing grounds have a reduced continental shelf and have been subjected to intense fishing, leading to depletion. This situation has promoted the practice of artisanal inshore fishing.

Fishing grounds in the Northwest and Cantabrian Sea, characterized by low salinity and Atlantic tides, possess greater fish wealth, providing one third of Spanish production.

Consequently, the Spanish fleet operates extensively in foreign fishing grounds, principally on the European platform. Atlantic fisheries waters are part of the European Union. Spanish integration into the Common Fisheries Policy (CFP) and the 200-mile restriction significantly affected Basque and Galician trawler fleets.

The Galician and North African Atlantic continental shelf is one of the most productive in the world due to the cold Canary Current. The Spanish fleet operates especially in the fishing grounds of the Northwest Atlantic and the South Atlantic. Recently, fishing activity has been extended to the fishing grounds of the Western Indian Ocean.

Commercialization and Trade

Spanish fishing production is insufficient for domestic consumption, requiring imports from other countries.

Exports focus on smaller species of lower economic value. However, exports are rising due to the Spanish fleet operating in foreign fishing grounds, bringing back high-value catches that exceed traditional domestic demand. Crustaceans stand out in terms of imported volume.

Domestic Distribution

Within Spain, fish marketing is primarily done via road transport. There are three main distribution areas: Galicia, the Basque Country, and the South Atlantic region.

Madrid and Barcelona are the two basic market areas for fish. Madrid serves as the central service hub for all of Spain's coastal production.

From producer to consumer, the fish passes through a large number of intermediaries, resulting in high final prices. Therefore, there is an ongoing attempt to regulate the marketing of fishery products.

Consumption Trends

Eighty percent (80%) of fish landed by the inshore and offshore fleet is destined for human consumption, primarily frozen. The importance of frozen fish is increasing due to its lower price point and the near disappearance of other traditional conservation methods.

Spain is characterized by a high annual per capita fish consumption index. The growth in per capita consumption has been paralleled by rising living standards.