Key data
| Regulation | Resolution of July 5, 2026, from the General Secretariat of Fisheries, correcting errors in the one of June 24, 2026 |
|---|---|
| Publication | July 10, 2026 |
| Entry into force | July 10, 2026 (immediate effect) |
| Affected parties | Spanish shipowners and surface longline vessels with authorization for external fishing (APFE) of blue shark in the North and South Atlantic |
| Category | Agriculture and Fisheries |
| Campaign | 2026 campaign |
| North Atlantic limit (APFE zones 2 and/or 3) | 469,410.23 kg per vessel |
| South Atlantic limit (APFE south) | 430,974.83 kg per vessel |
| Corrected regulation | Resolution of June 24, 2026 |
Dozens of Spanish surface longline vessels operating in the North and South Atlantic under external fleet authorization (APFE) have had new individual blue shark catch limits since July 10, 2026, following the correction published in the Official State Gazette on the same day. The resolution of July 5, 2026 from the General Secretariat of Fisheries does not introduce changes in fishing policy: it corrects material errors that remained in the original resolution of June 24, 2026, but the data it publishes are those that have legal validity from today.
For shipowners and fleet managers, the practical consequence is immediate: the limits they must respect are not those of the June resolution, but those of this correction. Operating with the old figures could mean exceeding the legal quota without knowing it.
What does this regulation establish?
The resolution of June 24, 2026 regulated the blue shark (Prionace glauca) fishing campaign for the unified census fleet of surface longline in the North and South Atlantic. It contained material errors—probably in figures or in the allocation of quotas per vessel—that have required publishing this correction with effects from the same day of its publication.
The specific changes introduced by the corrective resolution are:
- Correction of the individual catch limit for the North Atlantic: set at 469,410.23 kg per vessel for vessels with APFE in zones 2 and/or 3.
- Limit for the South Atlantic: 430,974.83 kg per vessel for vessels with exclusive APFE in the south.
- Variable quotas for mixed APFE: vessels with authorization to operate in both oceans have individual quotas that vary according to the distribution of their activity between the North and South Atlantic. These specific quotas appear in the updated annexes.
- Complete replacement of annexes I, II and III: all three annexes have been entirely replaced with the lists of vessels and their individual quotas differentiated by geographic zone.
| Type of APFE | Operating zone | Individual catch limit |
|---|---|---|
| APFE zones 2 and/or 3 | North Atlantic | 469,410.23 kg per vessel |
| APFE south | South Atlantic | 430,974.83 kg per vessel |
| Mixed APFE (north + south) | North and South Atlantic | Variable according to distribution between oceans (see annexes I, II and III) |
Economic and operational impact
A correction of errors may seem like a minor procedure, but for the surface longline fleet it has direct consequences on campaign management:
- Modified individual quotas: if the error affected the figures in the annexes, some vessels may now have a higher or lower quota than they thought they had. This impacts planning of fishing trips, sales contracts and hold management.
- Risk of exceeding the quota without knowing it: any vessel that has been operating since June 24 with the erroneous data must verify whether its accumulated catches are within the new corrected limit.
- Difference between zones: the North Atlantic limit (469,410.23 kg) exceeds the South Atlantic limit (430,974.83 kg) by 38,435.40 kg, which may influence decisions on reallocation of fishing effort for vessels with mixed APFE.
- Immediate administrative management: shipowners must update their internal records with data from the new annexes, which are the only ones with legal validity from July 10, 2026.
Who does it affect?
- Shipowners of Spanish surface longline vessels registered in the unified census for blue shark fishing.
- Vessels with Authorization for Fishing in Third Country Waters or on the High Seas (APFE) for the North Atlantic (zones 2 and/or 3).
- Vessels with APFE for the South Atlantic.
- Vessels with mixed APFE (authorization to operate in both oceans), whose individual quotas are variable and appear in the updated annexes.
- Fleet managers, skippers and compliance officers of affected shipowner companies.
- Fishing guilds and producer organizations that manage collective blue shark quotas in these zones.
Practical example
A surface longline vessel with APFE for the North Atlantic (zones 2 and/or 3) that, since June 24, 2026, had been managing its campaign with an erroneous individual quota published in the original resolution, must now verify its accumulated catches against the corrected limit of 469,410.23 kg.
Suppose that vessel has caught 300,000 kg since the start of the campaign. With the corrected limit, it would have 169,410.23 kg of available quota remaining. If the error in the original resolution had set a lower limit—for example, 450,000 kg—the vessel would believe it had only 150,000 kg remaining, underestimating its real margin by almost 20,000 kg. Conversely, if the original error overestimated the quota, the vessel could have planned catches that now exceed the legal limit.
For vessels with mixed APFE, the exact quota must be consulted directly in annexes I, II and III of the corrective resolution, as it varies depending on the distribution of activity between the North and South Atlantic.
What should companies do now?
- Download and review the new annexes I, II and III of the resolution of July 5, 2026, available in the official State Gazette. They are the only ones with legal validity from July 10, 2026.
- Locate the individual quota assigned to each vessel in the updated annexes and compare it with the figure that had been used since June 24. Identify if there is a difference and in which direction (up or down).
- Verify accumulated catches since the start of the campaign and recalculate the remaining quota margin with the new corrected limits.
- Update internal quota management systems (fleet management software, catch records, sales documentation) with the correct data.
- Communicate the change to the skipper and crew of each affected vessel, especially if there are fishing trips underway or planned soon.
- Keep documentation of the corrective resolution along with the original June one, to prove to any inspection that it is operating with the legally valid limits.
Frequently asked questions
What is the blue shark catch limit per vessel in the North Atlantic for 2026?
Following the correction published on July 10, 2026, the individual catch limit for vessels with APFE in zones 2 and/or 3 of the North Atlantic is set at 469,410.23 kg per vessel. This data replaces what appeared in the original resolution of June 24, 2026, which contained a material error.
And what is the limit for the South Atlantic in the 2026 blue shark campaign?
Vessels with exclusive APFE for the South Atlantic have an individual limit of 430,974.83 kg per vessel, according to the corrected data published on July 10, 2026. Vessels with mixed APFE (north and south) have variable quotas that must be consulted in annexes I, II and III of the corrective resolution.
What happens if my vessel has been operating with the erroneous data from the June resolution?
You must immediately verify the accumulated catches since the start of the campaign and compare them with the new corrected limit. If catches exceed the corrected limit, there is a risk of quota non-compliance. If they are below, you must recalculate the remaining margin with the valid figures. The corrective resolution has effect from July 10, 2026 itself.
Where can I check my vessel's individual quota in the new annexes?
Annexes I, II and III have been entirely replaced by the resolution of July 5, 2026. You can consult them in the full text published in the official State Gazette. The annexes contain the list of vessels and their individual quotas differentiated by geographic zone (North Atlantic, South Atlantic and mixed).
When does the 2026 blue shark quota correction come into force?
The error correction resolution was published on July 10, 2026 and came into force that same day. There is no transitional period: the corrected limits apply immediately to the entire 2026 campaign.
Official source
Consult complete regulation in official source
Notice: This article is for informational purposes only and does not constitute legal advice. For specific decisions, consult a qualified professional. Source: https://www.boe.es/diario_boe/txt.php?id=BOE-A-2026-15107