The Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food has ordered the initial payment of 3,210,853.38 euros to 3,798 shipowners operating 4,034 fishing vessels, in order to compensate for the increase in diesel prices caused by the armed conflict in the Middle East.
These aids, approved through an order signed on August 14, aim to "compensate for the increase in the price of fuel consumed between March 22 and April 30," as specified by the department led by Luis Planas.
The management of this subsidy is carried out ex officio, "without the need for beneficiaries to submit an application," which allows for the acceleration of compensation payments. To this end, it is previously verified which vessels have engaged in fishing activity during the established period.
In parallel, the General Secretariat of Fisheries is processing a second block of beneficiaries, which includes those who submitted claims, and will soon publish the final resolution with the complete list and the corresponding amounts.
These aids are framed within Article 51 of Royal Decree-Law 7/2026, of March 20, as part of the Comprehensive Response Plan to the Crisis in the Middle East. The Government has extended the subsidizable period of the measure from March 22 to September 30, 2026.
The amount is calculated per vessel, multiplying a unit amount by the daily fuel consumption and by the days of activity within the eligible period, with a cap of 200,000 euros per ship and 400,000 euros per shipowner.
The maximum amount is set at 0.20 euros per liter of diesel. However, the option to make additional payments is foreseen if 70% of the average price increase of fuel throughout the eligible period exceeds the sum of the 0.2 euros/liter already paid through interim payments.
The measures have the approval of the European Commission and Spain has set the intensity of the aid "at the maximum allowed, equivalent to 70% of the difference" compared to the cost of fuel prior to the start of the conflict (0.697 euros per liter as of February 23).
Distribution by autonomous communities
Regarding territorial distribution, Galicia is the main beneficiary, with 1,247,405.61 euros allocated to 1,671 shipowners and 1,757 fishing vessels based in this community.
In second place is Andalucía, which will receive 682,858.54 euros for 682 shipowners and 738 vessels, followed by Catalonia, with 386,694.72 euros distributed among 377 shipowners and 399 boats.
The Valencian Community will receive 362,845.75 euros for 242 shipowners. Next are Cantabria (168,281.69 euros and 82 shipowners), Asturias (88,111.09 euros and 136 shipowners) and the Balearic Islands, with 81,062.71 euros allocated to 169 shipowners.
Closing the distribution are the Canary Islands, with 71,204.73 euros for 328 shipowners; the Region of Murcia, with 67,459.49 euros for 101 shipowners; and the Basque Country, which will have 54,929.05 euros directed to 11 shipowners and 12 vessels.