Catalonia fisheries minister Oscar Ordeig urges EU reform of Mediterranean fishing rules

Oscar Ordeig, Catalonia’s minister of Agriculture, Livestock, Fisheries and Food, warned that the European Commission’s proposal to cut fishing days by 80 % each year is “an insult”. He argued that EU rules were designed for the Atlantic and do not fit the Mediterranean, leading to loss of vessels and hardship for local fishing cooperatives.

Ordeig said the regional budget for fisheries will rise by 110 % in the upcoming July vote and that the government plans to eliminate port fees for fishing activities. He called for an “omnibus” regulation that would replace multiple existing laws, including the Multi‑Annual Plan, to create a single framework tailored to the Mediterranean reality.

He added, “If they let us work, the fishing sector will be able to earn a living,” and announced plans to meet with the EU fisheries commissioner to push for these changes.