Galicia moves to reform aquaculture laws and sardine quotas

The Xunta de Galicia has commissioned Cetmar to draft a new decree to regulate marine aquaculture in the region. This initiative aims to consolidate and update existing regulations, much of which dates back to 1993, and to address previously unregulated aspects of the industry. This follows a failed attempt a decade ago to implement a similar law that faced significant opposition from the sector due to a perceived lack of consultation.

Separately, concerns have been raised regarding the sardine quota system affecting the Galician purse seine fleet. Walter Pardo, the PSdeG Secretary of Fisheries for A Coruña, has formally requested the Ministry of Fisheries to review the current distribution system. Pardo noted that some shipowners have exhausted their assigned quotas despite available resources and market demand, while quotas in other areas remain underutilized. He is calling for a more efficient management system that allows for the redistribution of unused quotas to maximize employment and sustainability.