Following a meeting with representatives of fishing companies, associations and communities, Spain’s Secretary General of Fisheries Isabel Artime has indicated a willngness to open the fishery for bluefin tuna to new sectors of the fleet – including the artisanal sector that has been asking for access to bluefin quota.
One of the main points to be addressed at the upcoming 14-17th November ICCAT meeting is to review the bluefin tuna quota for the three-year period 2026-2028.
Isabel Artime made the point that the successful recovery of this iconic species has been possible thanks to the commitment to sustainability shown by both the fishing sector and various administrations.
She stated that the ministry is already working on a future amendment to the royal decree regulating the fishery for bluefin tuna in the Eastern Atlantic and the Mediterranean.
‘In the event of an increase in the current quota, we would be at the ideal time to open the fishery to new fleet segments that have not been able to access it due to the situation of the resource,’ she said.
Proposals aim to take advantage of a potential increase in the bluefin tuna quota to address the needs and requests of the fleet, with special attention to artisanal fleets and the increase in by-catch rates.
