⚓️🇪🇺 Spanish fishing fleets strike against new EU regulations

Oneliner

Spanish fishing fleets are protesting new EU Fishing Control Regulations effective from 10 January 2026, which require four-hour port arrival notices and on-board catch recording. Nearly 500 boats in Valencia halted operations, while the Asturian fleet also declared a strike, citing safety concerns and impractical requirements. Fishermen argue that the regulations do not consider the realities of small-scale fishing and pose risks to crew safety.

Key points

• Nearly 500 fishing boats in Valencia halted operations in protest of new EU regulations.
• Asturian fishers also declared a strike, citing safety concerns and impractical requirements.
• The regulations, effective since 10 January 2026, mandate four-hour port arrival notices and on-board catch recording.

Links

• elDiario: Los cerca de 500 barcos pesqueros de las cofradías valencianas paran por la nueva norma de control de la Unió Europea
• Cadena SER: La flota pesquera balear se queda en tierra en protesta por el nuevo reglamento europeo
• elDiario: La flota asturiana se declara en paro contra el nuevo reglamento europeo de pesca

Facts

• The new EU Fishing Control Regulation took effect on 10 January 2026.
• Approximately 500 fishing boats from Valencia's guilds participated in the strike.
• The Asturian fishing fleet consists of 254 vessels, with only one going out to fish during the protest.

Quotes

• You cannot notify the return to port four hours in advance when at that time you do not know when fishing will finish — Pedro Carmona
• These measures seem designed for fleets very different from ours — Adolfo García

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