Spain's fisheries see record sardine demand as mackerel catches collapse

In the coastal city of Vigo, sardine sales surged ahead of the San Juan celebrations on June 24. Vendors reported queues and sales tripling compared with a typical day, with premium sardines reaching about €15 per kilogram, the highest price in a decade.

Meanwhile, the southern mackerel (caballa del sur) season off Huelva is on the brink of failure. Catches have fallen to roughly 10% of normal levels, threatening the livelihood of a fleet of about 14 boats that support thousands of jobs in the region. Fishers and processors are mounting a final effort to locate schools of mackerel before the campaign ends, but the outlook remains bleak.