The Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food, Luis Planas, held a meeting this Friday with representatives of fishing and aquaculture to analyze the upcoming negotiations of the European Union on the total allowable catches (TAC) and quotas for 2027, the situation in the Mediterranean, the future Multiannual Financial Framework 2028-2034, and the reform of the Common Fisheries Policy (CFP).
Representatives from the Spanish Confederation of Fishing (Cepesca), the National Federation of Fishermen's Guilds (FNCP), and the Spanish Aquaculture Business Association (Apromar) participated in the meeting.
During the meeting, the minister conveyed to the sector that a scenario of stability is expected for the main fisheries of the Atlantic, thanks to the overall good status of the most relevant species.
"We will closely follow the negotiations on mackerel," Planas pointed out, referring to the lack of agreement among all the countries involved in this fishery. He also noted that, within the framework of the agreement with the United Kingdom, the goal will be to secure the best possible quota for North hake.
Regarding the Mediterranean, he highlighted that the selectivity and sustainability measures promoted by Spain have been embraced with great effort by the national fleet, and he expressed his recognition to the sector, "because they are working." "We hope that scientific reports confirm the recovery of resources and we will not accept new reductions in fishing days that could jeopardize the profitability of the sector," he added.
Furthermore, the Fisheries official presented the status of the discussions on the Multiannual Financial Framework 2028-2034 and the future Common Fisheries Policy (CFP), in which Spain demands "sufficient funding" for the activity and a better balance between environmental sustainability and the economic and social viability of fishing.
The meeting also addressed the economic effects of the war in the Middle East and its impact on the main productive sectors, and Planas recalled the Government's support for fishing diesel.
This meeting also served to address the upcoming review of the Western Mediterranean Plan, the modification of the European Maritime, Fisheries and Aquaculture Fund (Fempa), and various national regulatory projects related to the control of fishing activity, resource management, and professional qualifications.