In the framework of the Council of Ministers of Agriculture and Fisheries being held in Luxembourg, the Minister of Agriculture, Luis Planas, has urged the European Commission to recognize the progress in the management of fishery resources in the Mediterranean, particularly in the Iberian waters and the Bay of Biscay.
During the meeting, the Commission presented a preliminary communication on fishing possibilities for 2027, which will be discussed in the coming months and is expected to be approved in December.
Planas emphasized the need for the analysis of the Mediterranean to include recent progress in the sustainability of fish populations. However, he noted that decisions cannot be made until scientific reports on the conditions of different fishing grounds and species are available. Additionally, he stressed the urgency of reviewing the fishing regulation of the Western Mediterranean, a request supported by Spain, France, and Italy, which seeks to adapt fishery management to the reality of the fleets operating in the region.
The minister also emphasized the importance of basing fishing decisions on updated scientific data and considering the socioeconomic impact of these. He proposed prioritizing selectivity measures instead of reducing fishing days and advocated for extending multi-annual quotas to more species. Planas concluded by stressing that the new Common Fisheries Policy must balance environmental sustainability with the profitability of the fishing sector, highlighting the need to modernize the fleet to make it more sustainable and safe.