The Spanish Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food has allocated mackerel quota across its Northeast Atlantic fleet, with a significant increase.
The 2026 adapted quota of 1275 tonnes of northern mackerel is distributed among authorised vessels, and the measure relates to 84 fishing vessels mainly in Galicia and the Basque Country.
As a result of the work carried out by the General Secretariat for Fisheries to secure quota exchanges with other Member States, and following the transfer of unused quota in 2025 through the interannual flexibility mechanism, a quota of 1275 tonnes has been reached. This represents a significant increase compared to the provisional TAC set by the Council of Ministers of Agriculture and Fisheries in December 2025, which was only three tonnes.
Considering the seasonal nature of this fishery and with the aim of facilitating adequate forward planning, the General Secretariat for Fisheries deemed it appropriate to distribute 100% of the Spanish quota.
The 84 recipient fishing vessels make up what’s referred to as the 300 fleet, with home ports in the northwest Cantabrian Sea, located mainly in Galicia and the Basque Country.
