EU reaches deal on Mediterranean fishing days with additional sustainability measures

After extensive negotiations, EU member states have reached an agreement on trawling in the Mediterranean.

The discussions extended into the early hours of Wednesday and saw Spain, Italy, and France push back against the European Commission's initial stance.

According to Brussels, the new pact will allow trawlers in the Mediterranean to maintain nearly the same number of fishing days as before, provided they adopt sustainability measures.

Speaking at a press conference in the Belgian capital, EU Commissioner for Fisheries and Oceans, Costas Kadis, emphasized that the agreement aims to balance industry activity with stock preservation.

"If fishers adapt and implement the measures we've agreed upon, they can maintain or nearly maintain their current fishing days," Kadis explained. "We want out message to be that fishing opportunities can continue, but in a more sustainable way."

The deal, finalized during a meeting of EU agriculture and fisheries ministers, was unanimously supported by member states.

Kadis noted that both he and Spain’s Minister for Agriculture, Fisheries, and Food, Luis Planas, left the talks "satisfied" and shook hands on the agreement.

Planas said that the agreement “guarantees” activity in the Mediterranean, but admitted that the compensatory measures agreed as a condition for maintaining the same working days are “complicated” to implement, and therefore has promised to provide economic support to the sector.

“We have discussed this with the European Commission and we will seek public support mechanisms to make their implementation as viable as possible,” the minister said in a press conference.

Planas celebrated the “good result” after “very difficult” negotiations.

Sustainability measures

The European Commission detailed 12 compensatory measures, many of which are cumulative, that eligible trawlers can adopt to increase their allocated fishing days.

For instance, using specific types of trawl nets could allow vessels to increase their fishing days by 9.3% compared to the European Commission's initial proposal of 27 days.

Other measures include replacing trawl door equipment and factoring in the impact of seasonal closures on vessels.

Implementing modifications by May 1, 2025, could further extend fishing days. 

Additional funds will be made available from the European Maritime, Fisheries, and Aquaculture Fund to adapt to these practices.

Reaction

Reacting to the agreement, Javier Garat, secretary general of the Spanish Fishing Confederation, described it as a "new chapter" for the Mediterranean fishing sector.

While acknowledging that the regulations are "complex" and require thorough analysis, he warned that not all fishers would be able to meet the additional requirements to maintain their fishing days.

"This will have social and economic consequences for the Mediterranean fishing sector. We’ll see how many can survive," Garat said.