Italian and Spanish fishermen react differently to a new EU fishing agreement, showing contrasting satisfaction and protest over regulations.
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Italian fishermen celebrate the success of an EU agreement reached on December 10th, while Andalusian fishermen have protested against the same deal. The initial European Commission proposal for the Spanish Mediterranean aimed to reduce fishing capacity by 79%, allowing boats from Andalusia, Murcia, Valencia, and Catalonia to fish only 27 days a year. Italy achieved a reduction of 39% initially, but both countries managed to bring this percentage down to zero. However, maintaining fishing days requires adherence to numerous EU measures concerning net size, gear type, and closures, which impose significant costs on ship owners. The European Commission has offered access to European funds for these unforeseen expenses. Spanish fishermen are concerned that the burden falls disproportionately on them compared to other Mediterranean nations like Morocco or Tunisia, who can fish year-round. Furthermore, there is uncertainty regarding the effectiveness and profitability of new requirements, such as specific net sizes, and concerns about the short adaptation time provided. Malagueño fishermen feel the agreement is insufficient, especially given recent reductions in fishing days and generational turnover issues. While Italian industry bodies praise the outcome as a successful balance between environmental sustainability and economic survival, Spanish representatives express feeling abandoned despite ongoing discussions with government officials.
