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Spain’s Small-Scale Fishers Halt Trips Over New Control Rules as Talks Open in Madrid

The minister ordered provisional steps ahead of an EU fisheries council discussion on January 26.

Overview

  • The stoppage by the artisanal fleet begins Monday in protest at 2023 control rules applied since January 10 that they say are impossible to meet.
  • Fishers object to a four‑hour pre‑arrival port notice, with the ministry considering 2.5 hours while the sector insists on 30 minutes.
  • They also reject declaring catches from the first kilo because it forces onboard weighing with an acknowledged error of about 20%.
  • Requirements apply to vessels of 11.99 metres and above, which must carry an electronic logbook, raising fears of sanctions for non‑compliance.
  • Protest concentrations are planned at ports and in Pontevedra as sector leaders meet Secretary‑General Isabel Artime in Madrid, with multiple regional governments publicly backing the fleet.