Spanish Fisheries and Sustainable Aquaculture Industry

Spain and the European Common Fisheries Policy

Since Spain joined the then EEC and after a transitional period that lasted ten years, we are fully integrated into the European community. Therefore, it is the Council of Fisheries Ministers of the EU that sets the total allowable catches and fishing quotas allocated to us, both for national and community fisheries. The Common Fisheries Policy (CFP) has existed for 20 years with the following objectives:

• To conserve fish stocks.
• To protect the marine environment.
• To ensure the viability of European fleets.
• To provide good quality food to consumers.

Failure to meet these objectives led to a reform policy in 2003, needed to achieve future sustainable fisheries from a biological, environmental, and economic standpoint.

Fishing in Third Countries and Non-Community Waters

For a country's vessels to fish in the Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ) of another country, fisheries agreements are signed between governments. Spain cannot negotiate bilaterally with countries outside the EU, but the EU will sign the agreements. For Spain, Morocco is the country that generates more problems in this regard. To facilitate agreement, there has been a resort to the creation of joint ventures, in which capital is Spanish and the crew is made up of both Spanish and Moroccan personnel.

Aquaculture: An Alternative to Overexploitation

Aquaculture is defined as the cultivation of aquatic organisms, including fish, crustaceans, mollusks, and aquatic plants. Their sites are very diverse: they can be located on land or in natural sites of both the mainland and the maritime-terrestrial zone. Crops are grown in different ways:

• Horizontal: Maritime areas on land or sea.
• Vertical: In the water, suspended or fixed to the bottom.
• Cages: Located directly in the water.

Marketing and Industrial Transformation of Fish

The direct consumption of fresh fish accounts for 80% of the catch. Fresh fish products are preferred in Spanish homes. In addition, there is a food industry sector dedicated to the transformation of the remaining 20 percent. This industry caters to the species caught by Spanish fishermen but also those obtained from foreign trade. Its activity consists of the development and conservation of fish-based products.

The processing of fish products occurs in a variety of ways: salted, smoked, frozen, and canned (conservas). The next step is the distribution of products. Marketing channels are commercial structures formed by all interdependent links which include the movement of goods from the producer to the final consumer. Production and marketing of fishery and aquaculture products are regulated by technical and health standards. Labeling is the way to ensure consumer safety.