EU proposes 65% cut to days at sea for Mediterranean trawlers

The European Commission has proposed slashing trawling days in the Mediterranean by 65% in 2026, but boats that adopt sustainability measures could regain time at sea.

The proposal comes two weeks before EU agriculture and fisheries ministers are set to meet to decide next year's quotas.

The reduction would cut the current baseline from 27 days to 9.

However, the Commission clarified that fleets could go to sea more days if they offset the environmental impact through sustainability measures.

Brussels said the aim is to "continue the recovery" of Mediterranean fish stocks while "maintaining 2024 fishing levels."

Last year, the Commission allocated 27 trawling days in the Mediterranean, arguing a reduction was needed to reverse environmental degradation.

However, after negotiations with member states and pressure from the sector, Brussels allowed a series of compensatory measures that enabled fishermen to fish up to 130 days if they complied.

These measures included using larger mesh sizes, deploying off-bottom trawl doors that avoid damaging the seabed, and expanding fishing closures and protected zones.

Extra days before Christmas

Earlier this week, Spain's Minister of Agriculture and Fisheries, Luis Planas, announced an additional 13 days for trawlers before the end of the year to meet demand over the Christmas period. This brought the total for 2025 to 143 fishing days.

The Commission said it was "monitoring" Spain’s decision.

"The European Commission has noted media reports and is monitoring the situation with Spain to gather more information and seek solutions within the legal and scientific framework," a Commission spokesperson said.

Planas said the extra days were granted after "numerous discussions" and "intensive technical work" with the European Commission.