Catalan fishers stage coastwide protest against EU fishing restrictions

Catalonia's fishing industry came to a standstill on Monday as fishers launched a two-day strike to protest proposed European Union regulations that would limit their days at sea to just 28 annually. Such a limit would mean a reduction of 79% of what they are allowed to work.

Ports along the Catalan coast, typically bustling with activity, were eerily quiet on Monday, with boats moored and only minimal maintenance work taking place.

The strike, spearheaded by the trawling sector, aims to highlight the economic and social impact the restrictions would have on the industry.

Many fishers traveled to Madrid to join national protests, while others held rallies in Catalan coastal towns, including La Ràpita, Tarragona, Palamós, and Blanes.

La Ràpita, Catalonia's largest fishing port, was central to the day's industrial action. Its fleet of 36 trawlers, the largest in the region, remained docked, and the fishers' guild headquarters were shut.

Josep Gras, a trawler owner, expressed his frustrations: "Reducing us to 28 fishing days a year is unsustainable. It's an economic and social catastrophe for our community."

Gras views EU policymakers as disconnected from the realities of small-scale fishing. He warned that such policies would decimate local economies dependent on the fishing industry.

Brussels accused of overreach

In Tarragona, fishers gathered to denounce the EU’s proposal as part of a broader pattern of excessive regulation.

Esteve Ortiz, president of Tarragona’s fishers' guild, likened EU officials to the "inquisition" for their heavy-handed approach to fisheries management.

"Each day we don’t fish, we don’t earn. Meanwhile, the EU commissioners enjoy their comfortable salaries," Ortiz remarked.

Local politicians, including Tarragona mayor Rubén Viñuales, urged EU officials to visit the region and witness firsthand the livelihoods at stake.

On the Costa Brava, rallies in Palamós and Blanes drew significant support from fishers, local governments, restaurateurs, and fishmongers.

Francesc Benaiges, vice president of the Palamós fishers’ association, warned that the proposed restrictions equated to a de facto ban on trawling.

Some Catalan fishers traveled to Brussels on Monday with the aim of appealing to "common sense," to convince the European Commission to reconsider its proposal.

Coinciding with the meeting of the Ministers of Agriculture and Fisheries being held in the Belgian capital, representatives of the sector travelled to support the position of the Spanish government and "push" for the executive to maintain its demands.

The president of the Federation of Fishers' Guilds of Catalonia, Antoni Abat, called for a review of the scientific calculation used by the Commission to assess population stocks and has vindicated the "efforts" of the sector.

Demands for a moratorium

Protesters across Catalonia called for a moratorium on the proposed 2025 restrictions.

They demand that the EU allow current fishing conditions to remain in place while conducting more thorough scientific assessments to establish fairer regulations.

"This isn’t just about the fishers. It’s about the entire coastal economy, from fishmongers to restaurants, that depends on us," said Palamós mayor Lluís Puig.

The impact of the strike will be felt in ports as well as markets, where fresh fish will be noticeably absent. Fishers plan to amplify their message with further demonstrations, including a dramatic display of boats honking their horns in the bay of Blanes.