The Spanish Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food is assigning an addition 2454 fishing days for the current year to 301 Mediterranean trawlers that are using trawl doors flown off the seabed, reducing impact.
This additional allocation, accounting for 3% of the total days allocated to Spain for this year, in in response to the alteration of the management plan for the conservation of demersal fishery resources in the Mediterranean Sea, carried out last year, which sets out that this percentage of days will be used to encourage the use of low-impact gears such as flying doors.
This system significantly reduces the impact of bottom trawling on the seabed and generates a saving in fuel costs, ticking both environmental and economic boxes.
This year has seen a significant increase in the number of vessels using this gear, totalling 301 compared to 192 in 2025 – a 57% increase. As a result, 55% of the Mediterranean demersal trawl fleet now uses trawl doors that are towed so that they are clear of the seabed, reflecting the sector’s commitment to more sustainable fishing practices.
The call for the allocation of this 3% was made through the resolution of 17th June 2026, of the General Secretariat of Fisheries, and once the applications and the documentation provided were analysed, the days have been distributed among the applicants meeting the requirements.
Following this allocation, 7% of the fishing days assigned to Spain remain available for later distribution, providing an additional incentive for the Mediterranean trawler fleet. Furthermore, the optimisation mechanism will be activated in October, allowing for greater utilisation of the total fishing days allocated to Spain.
