The General Directorate of Fishing, Aquaculture, and Blue Economy, attached to the Ministry of Agriculture, Fishing, Water, and Rural Development, has decided to close the coquina fishery (donax trunculus) in all production areas of the Gulf of Cádiz due to the scarcity of the resource and as a measure to safeguard "the numerous recruits found."
According to the resolution published in the BOJA this Friday, dated September 18 and consulted by Europa Press, the scientific monitoring reports prepared by the Agency for Agricultural and Fisheries Management of Andalusia (Agapa) and the Spanish Institute of Oceanography (IEOCSIC) reflect that the state of the resource is "below the average catch performance thresholds, outside of safe biological limits, with a negative trend."
However, the latest scientific reports incorporate a favorable element by noting "a significant increase in recruitment, which makes it even more necessary to close the fishery, both due to the lack of existing resources and to protect the numerous recruits."
Consequently, the Ministry agrees to close the coquina fishery (donax trunculus) in all production areas of the Gulf of Cádiz due to "resource scarcity," a restriction that will be effective from 00:00 hours on September 28.
At the same time, the exercise of the activity by authorized professional shellfish gatherers for the capture of this species is prohibited due to force majeure, for the corresponding effects. Likewise, the prohibition on capturing coquina using towed traces remains in effect.
Furthermore, it is prohibited to capture, keep on board, transship, land, and market coquina (donax trunculus) from the production areas of the Gulf of Cádiz. Therefore, specimens of this species obtained accidentally must be returned to the sea immediately.
The resolution reminds that the Order of July 20, 2023, which approves a Management Plan for coquina (donax trunculus) in the Gulf of Cádiz in the modalities of foot shellfishing and towed trace, sets technical measures to achieve "maximum sustainable yield levels," in line with the European Union Regulation.
In its article 3.1, said order establishes that, for application purposes, it will be considered that the coquina (donax trunculus) is within biologically safe limits and, therefore, exploited sustainably when the total annual catch is equal to or less than the Maximum Sustainable Yield; the average catch threshold exceeds 3.5 kg/harvester/hour; and the minimum recruitment index (D15), defined as the number of individuals less than 15 mm, is greater than eight coquina individuals/square meter.
Article 3.2 indicates that, based on the results of the scientific assessment and monitoring studies of the fishery, the competent General Directorate in matters of shellfish gathering may set each year the biological reference points provided for in this provision.
Furthermore, article 4.1 determines that, if a total annual catch value is set and this is exceeded, the closure of the coquina fishery will be ordered for the remainder of the current campaign.
Finally, article 4.5 states that the measure of closing the fishery will always be applied automatically in the production areas when the average catch yield values are equal to or less than 1.5 kg/harvester/hour, considered "critical average catch threshold," by motivated resolution of the aforementioned General Directorate, and will be maintained until the results of scientific monitoring provide sufficient technical guarantees to resume extractive activity.