Bluefin Tuna Fishing Strait 2026: quotas, deadlines and obligations for artisanal fleet

Key data

Artisanal vessels in the Strait authorised to fish bluefin tuna now have the rules of the 2026 campaign in force. The Resolución de 25 de marzo de 2026 de la Secretaría General de Pesca establishes the catch quotas, fishing periods and control obligations that each vessel on list h) of the specific census must comply with from that same date.

This is not a routine regulation: it directly affects how much each vessel can catch, when it can do so, and what documentation must be submitted. Exceeding the quota or failing to comply with declarations can result in the loss of the fishing authorisation for future campaigns.

What does this regulation establish?

The resolution comprehensively regulates the 2026 bluefin tuna fishing campaign for the artisanal fleet in the Strait. The main elements it establishes are:

All of this is framed within the ICCAT Multiannual Management Plan for eastern Atlantic and Mediterranean bluefin tuna, the international body that sets global catch ceilings for this species. Spain, as an EU Member State, translates these international commitments into national regulations through resolutions such as this one.

The specific census referred to in the resolution includes a list h) reserved for artisanal vessels in the Strait with limited catches. Only vessels included in that list may benefit from the quotas and periods established in this resolution.

Economic and operational impact

For the vessel owners affected, this resolution has direct consequences for campaign planning:

• Individual quota as an income ceiling: The individual limit assigned to each vessel determines the maximum volume of catches that can be marketed throughout the entire campaign. Exceeding that limit not only entails sanctions, but also the possible loss of authorisation for future campaigns.
• Authorised periods as the operational window: Bluefin tuna may only be fished during the periods established in the resolution. Operating outside those periods constitutes an infringement, regardless of whether the individual quota has been exhausted or not.
• Declaration obligations as an administrative burden: Vessel owners must keep catch records up to date and comply with the deadlines and declaration formats required. An error in the declaration may have the same consequences as a quota breach.
• Prior authorisation as a prerequisite for departure: Without a valid authorisation, the vessel cannot commence activity. Verifying that the authorisation is current before the start of the campaign is a critical step.

The most serious economic risk is not the one-off sanction, but the withdrawal of the authorisation, which would prevent participation in future bluefin tuna campaigns — one of the highest-value fisheries per tonne in the Strait.

Who is affected?

This resolution applies exclusively to:

• Owners of artisanal vessels in the Strait included in list h) of the specific census of the fleet authorised for bluefin tuna fishing
• Fishermen on board such vessels during the 2026 campaign
• Managers and administrators of fishing guilds in the Strait area that coordinate the activity of these vessels
• Administrative advisors and managers who process authorisations and catch declarations on behalf of vessel owners

It does not affect purse seine fleets, surface longliners or other fishing methods, nor artisanal vessels from other geographical areas outside the Strait. The scope of application is strictly that defined by list h) of the specific census.

Practical example

A vessel owner with an artisanal vessel in the Strait included in list h) of the specific census must, before commencing the 2026 campaign:

1. Verify that their vessel appears in the specific census and that the bluefin tuna fishing authorisation is valid for the 2026 campaign.
2. Check the individual catch limit assigned to their vessel for this campaign, as that is the maximum ceiling that can be marketed.
3. Plan departures within the authorised periods established in the resolution, without operating outside those dates even if quota is still available.
4. Keep the catch register up to date and comply with declarations within the required deadlines and formats, as catch control is one of the central pillars of the resolution.

If that vessel owner exceeds their individual limit, even by a small margin, they are exposed to the withdrawal of their authorisation, which would prevent them from participating in the following year's bluefin tuna campaign. The cost of that non-compliance, in terms of lost income in future campaigns, far outweighs any short-term benefit from catching above the limit.

What should vessel owners do now?

1. Verify inclusion in the census: Confirm that the vessel appears in list h) of the specific census of the fleet authorised for bluefin tuna fishing. Without that inclusion, there is no quota or possible authorisation.
2. Check the prior authorisation: Verify that the bluefin tuna fishing authorisation for the 2026 campaign is in force before any departure. The resolution requires prior authorisation as a condition of activity.
3. Know the assigned individual limit: Identify the individual quota assigned to the vessel for the 2026 campaign and do not exceed it under any circumstances.
4. Plan activity within the authorised periods: Schedule departures exclusively within the periods established in the resolution, avoiding operating outside those time windows.
5. Establish a catch control system: Implement an up-to-date catch register that allows declaration obligations to be met on time and in the correct format, and enables early detection of approaching the individual limit.
6. Consult the full resolution: Review the complete text published in the BOE (BOE-A-2026-7530) to find out the exact deadlines, formats and declaration procedures.

Official source

Disclaimer: This article is for informational purposes only and does not constitute legal advice. For specific decisions, please consult a qualified professional. Source: https://www.boe.es/diario_boe/txt.php?id=BOE-A-2026-7530