Bottom trawling in the southern Mediterranean 2026: who can operate and what to do if your vessel is not on the list

Key data

If you have a bottom trawling fleet on the southern Mediterranean coast, this resolution directly determines whether you can or cannot fish in those waters. The Resolution of March 16, 2026 from the Directorate General for Sustainable Fisheries updates the current list of vessels authorized to practice bottom trawling in specific areas of the Spanish southern Mediterranean coast. The regulation entered into force on the same day it was signed, March 16, and was published in the Official Gazette on March 17, 2026.

The effect is immediate: the previous list is replaced by the new one, and any vessel not appearing in the new list lacks authorization to operate in those areas from that date.

What does this regulation establish?

The resolution modifies the current list of vessels authorized to practice bottom trawling in certain areas of the Spanish southern Mediterranean coast. The mechanism is one of complete replacement: the new list replaces the previous one and becomes the only valid reference for determining which vessels can operate legally.

The key points established by the regulation are:

• Only vessels included in the new published list can practice bottom trawling in the affected areas of the southern Mediterranean coast.
• Vessels not appearing in the updated list are automatically left without authorization to operate in those areas.
• The measure is based on criteria of fisheries sustainability and marine resource management.
• Vessel owners and skippers must verify whether their vessel appears in the new list to determine their legal status.
• Those not appearing on the list can initiate inclusion procedures or file an appeal with the competent administration.

The regulation does not establish an explicit transition period: entry into force was March 16, 2026, so the new list is operative from that same day.

Economic and operational impact

The impact of this resolution is direct on the activity and income of affected fishing companies. Being left off the list is not a minor administrative matter: it implies immediate suspension of activity in the regulated areas of the southern Mediterranean coast.

The specific operational consequences are:

• Suspension of activity: A vessel excluded from the list cannot fish in regulated areas without incurring an administrative violation.
• Risk of penalties: Operating without authorization in regulated fishing areas entails the opening of penalty proceedings by the competent fishing administration.
• License review: Companies must review the status of their licenses and verify that the documentation of each vessel is in order before going out to fish.
• Inclusion or appeal procedures: If a vessel has been excluded and the owner believes it should be on the list, they must initiate the corresponding administrative procedures, which involves time and resources.
• Fleet planning: Companies with multiple vessels must review the status of each one individually, as authorization is per vessel.

Who does it affect?

This resolution directly affects all operators in the fishing sector with bottom trawling activity on the Spanish southern Mediterranean coast:

• Vessel owners with bottom trawling vessels operating in areas of the southern Mediterranean coast, regardless of the size of their fleet.
• Vessel skippers who must verify that the vessel they command appears in the new list before fishing.
• Fishing companies with their own or managed fleet in the southern Mediterranean area that use the bottom trawling method.
• Fleet managers and advisors who must update the documentation and authorization status of each vessel under their management.
• Fishing guilds and industry organizations that group vessel owners with activity in the affected areas.

Practical example

A fishing company with three bottom trawling vessels that regularly operates on the southern Mediterranean coast receives notification of the new resolution on March 17, 2026. Its operations manager must immediately consult the new list published in the Official Gazette (BOE-A-2026-6301) to verify the status of each of its three vessels.

Possible scenario: two of the three vessels appear on the new list and can continue fishing normally. The third does not appear in the new list. From March 16, 2026, that vessel is not authorized to operate in the regulated areas of the southern Mediterranean coast. If it goes out to fish before resolving its situation, the company faces an administrative penalty proceeding.

The immediate action for that third vessel is to initiate inclusion procedures with the Directorate General for Sustainable Fisheries or, if the company believes the exclusion is an error, file an appeal with the competent administration. While the procedure is being resolved, that vessel cannot operate in the affected areas without legal risk.

What should companies do now?

1. Consult the new list published in the Official Gazette (reference BOE-A-2026-6301) and identify whether each vessel in your fleet appears on the updated list. This verification must be done vessel by vessel.
2. Suspend the activity of vessels not included in the new list in the regulated areas of the southern Mediterranean coast until their situation is regularized, to avoid administrative penalties.
3. Initiate inclusion procedures with the Directorate General for Sustainable Fisheries for vessels not appearing on the list that you believe should be authorized.
4. File an administrative appeal if you believe the exclusion of any vessel is incorrect or unjustified, within the legal deadlines established.
5. Review and update license documentation for each vessel to ensure that all documentation is in order for future updates to the list.
6. Inform vessel skippers about the authorization status of each vessel, as they are directly responsible for operations at sea.