Fishermen call Brussels' proposal to limit fishing days 'nonsense of biblical proportions'

Antoni Abad, president of the Catalan fishermen's association, has called Brussels' proposal of limiting trawlers' activity to nine days a year in 2026 "nonsense of biblical proportions."

However, the European Commission left the door open to extending the limits if more sustainability measures are implemented.

Abad pushed back that fishermen have been adopting measures for five years and he does not know "what more they can invent."

For this reason, he also called for an analysis of the measures implemented so far, before more limits are applied.

Abad asserted the right of fishermen to work, and warned that if they cannot go out 180 days a year, their activity will not be viable and they will have to close.

To increase the baseline of nine days per year, fishermen will have to adopt more measures to reduce the impact that their activity has on marine ecosystems.

A year ago, Brussels indicated that they could work 27 days in 2025, but with compensation measures this would be extended to 130 days. Finally, after the sector's claims, 143 days have been reached.

On December 11 and 12, the European Union's Agriculture and Fisheries Council will be held, where the quotas allowed for next year will be decided.

Government rejects plan

The Catalan government is also against the new fishing quotas announced by the European Commission.

The Department of Agriculture expressed "deep disappointment and concern" because it considers that Brussels "ignores the effort" of the sector and "unfairly punishes" fishermen for the effects of climate change "which they cannot control."

Along the same lines, the executive considers that the proposal is "disconnected from scientific reality" and calls for "urgent reflection and review."

The ministry headed by Òscar Ordeig warns that the future of fishing is "at risk" and also calls on the Ministry for a "Mediterranean front" to stop the measures.