Spanish Fishing Industry: Economy, Regions, and Workforce

The importance of fishing in Spain, alongside hunting and gathering, has historically been a significant source of sustenance for humans. Spain, with its extensive 6,600 km coastline, has always been oriented towards the sea. This maritime tradition, coupled with a long religious history, has fostered a strong culture of fish consumption. Spain, a maritime nation with a deep Christian heritage, is one of the world's largest consumers of fish, averaging around 40 kg per person annually, significantly higher than the European average of 20 kg.

Fisheries Structure

While fishing may appear to have a modest impact on the Gross Domestic Product (GDP), its true value is considerably higher when considering that each job at sea generates approximately six jobs on land. The direct contribution to Spain's GDP is a mere 0.5%, yet this figure is higher than in most developed countries. Spanish fishing accounts for 2% of the global total, and the value of Spanish catches plays a more significant role than this percentage suggests.

National Fisheries

Overfishing of national fish stocks has necessitated several measures aimed at resource recovery and maintaining the quality of fish. The success of various fisheries is contingent upon a multitude of aquatic conditions, including water temperature, transparency, salinity, nutrient chains, coastal features, and marine relief.

Atlantic vs. Mediterranean Waters

Atlantic waters are typically greener than Mediterranean waters. Mediterranean waters have a salinity of 35%, with average surface temperatures ranging from 18°C in August to between 11°C and 15°C in January. Mediterranean waters are generally more transparent, with salinity reaching up to 38%. The average surface water temperature in the Mediterranean is 14°C in January and rises to 25°C in August. Tidal ranges in the Atlantic can reach 40 cm, and the continental shelf is narrower.

Fishing Regions

Based on climatic and water conditions, Spain's fishing regions are as follows:

• Bay of Biscay: From the French border to the Eo River in Lugo.
• Northwest: From the Eo River to the mouth of the Minho River, on the Portuguese border.
• South Atlantic: From the mouth of the Guadiana River on the Portuguese border in Ayamonte to the Bay of Algeciras and Cádiz.
• South Mediterranean: From the Bay of Algeciras, along the coast of Almería, including Ceuta and Melilla.
• Levant: From the coast of Alicante southwards.
• North: From Cape Creus in Girona to the French border.
• Balearic Islands
• Canary Islands

Labor Force

The population engaged in maritime fishing is estimated at just over 68,000 people, with an additional 14,500 dedicated to marine aquaculture. This comprises less than 1% of the total national population. The northwestern regions are particularly active, with almost one-third of the total 25,710 fishermen working aboard in Galicia, and nearly all of the 30,000 involved in shellfish gathering are also from this region. The South Mediterranean region has seen a significant decrease of 50% in its workforce. The Levantine region's workforce remains stable. In contrast, the Tramontana and northern regions have seen an increase in their numbers due to the growth of artisanal fleets. The Canary Islands region maintains a stable fishing population.

Fishing Fleet

Pinpointing the exact number of fishing vessels is challenging due to continuous scrapping and the introduction of new boats. Since joining the EU, Spain has reduced its fleet by 50%, although the catch capacity has only decreased by 20-25% because newer boats possess greater capacity. The EU actively promotes the reduction of vessel numbers and fishing capacity to mitigate the real danger of fisheries depletion. Years ago, the EU facilitated the replacement of small vessels with new, large-tonnage, high-capacity industrial fishing boats.

Challenges in Spanish Fishing

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