Spain boosts fisheries support with €7 million aid and extra trawl days

The Government of the Canary Islands approved the 2024 POSEICAN‑Pesca subsidy programme, increasing the budget by €956,932 to a total of €7,099,786. The raise, a 15.58% increase, will compensate extra costs faced by the archipelago’s fishing and aquaculture operators because of its ultra‑peripheral status. The call received 122 applications covering more than 21,000 tonnes; subsidies will support the production of 20,568 tonnes of fish and aquaculture products.

Separately, Spain’s Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food allocated 860 additional trawl‑fishing days to the province of Alicante. The extra days will be shared among 106 vessels that have installed “flying doors,” gear that lessens seabed impact and cuts fuel use by up to 30%. The measure follows EU pressure to maintain 143 trawl days while encouraging more sustainable practices.