Spain authorizes 6,000 vessels for accidental bluefin tuna catches

The Spanish Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food has authorized more than 6,000 vessels to engage in the accidental capture of bluefin tuna during the 2026 campaign. The resolution, published in the Official State Gazette, establishes a total quota of 233.92 tonnes for these incidental catches.

The quota is distributed across several maritime regions: 67.39 tonnes for the Northwest Cantabrian Sea, 55.28 tonnes for the Mediterranean, 47.25 tonnes for the Gulf of Cádiz, and 64 tonnes specifically for vessels based in La Línea de la Concepción, Algeciras, Barbate, and Conil.

To regulate the activity, the Ministry has set strict limits: each vessel is permitted one bluefin tuna per tide, or one per day if the tide lasts less than 24 hours. The decision follows a significant recovery in the bluefin tuna population and its increased presence along the Spanish coast, necessitating new regulations for the various fishing segments that frequently interact with the species.