The Minister of Rural Development, Livestock, Fishing and Food, María Jesús Susinos, has announced that the Government of Cantabria will withdraw the fee for hunting and fishing licenses in the next regional budget project, which will allow them to be free for a period of five years.
Likewise, he has explained that a regulatory modification is being processed with the aim of simplifying and accelerating the renewal of hunting grounds.
Susinos made this announcement this Sunday, at the commemorative event for the 40th anniversary of the Cantabrian Hunting Federation, where he reiterated the regional Executive's support for the hunting sector.
According to what has been specified, the elimination of the fee will affect 23,068 licenses (13,554 hunting and 9,514 fishing), with an estimated impact of over 1.35 million euros in five years, that is, more than 270,000 euros per year.
Currently, those under 18 and over 65 are already exempt from payment, so the new measure will directly affect approximately 21,900 active licenses.
"This is the commitment of the Government of Cantabria and its president, María José Sáenz de Buruaga, to the sector," remarked the head of Rural Development, who insisted on the Executive's willingness to accompany hunters and fishermen.
In the same way, Susinos has remarked that hunting is a "historical and cultural" activity that generates "essential environmental benefits", among them population control and the improvement of natural habitats.
It has also highlighted its "economic and social importance", recalling that it accounts for around 0.3% of the national GDP and that in Spain there are nearly 700,000 active licenses.
"Hunting not only protects the forest, but also sustains the dignity of the rural world," he pointed out, emphasizing its function as an "economic engine for rural territories."
Furthermore, he has recognized the work of the Ministry's staff who, for years, have contributed to the maintenance and development of hunting and fishing activities, favoring the conservation of ecosystems and the balance of wildlife.
Support for the sector and regulatory changes
In this context, Susinos has explained that the regional Government maintains a "constant" collaboration with the sector, advancing in improvements related to licenses, quotas, and management of hunting grounds.
Among the actions already underway, he mentioned the removal of the wolf from the List of Wild Species under Special Protection (LESPRE) and the initiation of population controls, which places Cantabria as the autonomous community "with the largest number of actions in this matter".
He added that a regulatory modification is being processed to streamline the renewal of hunting grounds, avoiding "unnecessary" administrative procedures when there are no relevant changes, so that, within a week, next May 18, "it will already enter the Parliament of Cantabria".
Likewise, he alluded to the recent declaration of the hunting emergency in the community as a "necessary" measure to preserve the safety of people, the primary sector, and the ecosystems themselves.
In relation to this, he has expressed his gratitude to the hunters, whom he has defined as "key figures" in the application of these measures.
Call for sector unity
The counselor took advantage of her speech to ask for unity and cooperation among all stakeholders, in a scenario marked by "the social debate surrounding hunting and fishing".
"At this moment it is more necessary than ever to walk together, with dialogue, transparency and loyalty," he stated, reiterating the regional government's support for hunting and fishing activities.
In this regard, Susinos recalled the values associated with hunting, such as respect for nature, discipline, and camaraderie, and emphasized that "hunting reminds us that we are not owners of the natural environment, but part of it".
To finalize, the head of Rural Development has congratulated the Cantabrian Hunting Federation for its forty years of trajectory, highlighting its status as a benchmark entity, with more than 6,000 members and the management of more than a hundred hunting grounds in the community.
He has also conveyed his recognition to those awarded on the day: the Brown Bear Foundation, chaired by Guillermo Palomero, for its work in defending the species; Tomás Elvira, for his contribution to animal health; Lorenzo González, mayor of Valdáliga, representing the commitment of rural municipalities; and the Society for the Promotion of Hunting and Fishing, the oldest in Spain, founded in 1880.
Among other authorities, the Director General of Forests and Biodiversity, Ángel Serdio; the president of the Royal Spanish Hunting Federation, Josep Escandell, and the president of the Cantabrian Hunting Federation, Nacho Valle, have attended the event, the Government has indicated in a press release.