Fishing Quotas 2026: 37 million kg available for Cantabrian and Northwest fleets

Key data

Spanish fishing fleets have immediate access to a common pool of surplus quotas of over 37 million kg for the 2026 fiscal year. The Resolution of October 8, 2026 from the General Secretariat of Fisheries activates the annual optimization mechanism regulated in RD 502/2022 and Order APA/315/2020, redistributing surplus quotas from 10 stocks in a pool accessible to authorized vessels. The deadline for consuming these quantities is December 31, 2026.

What does this regulation establish?

The annual optimization mechanism allows surplus quotas from certain stocks—quantities allocated but not consumed by their holders—to be placed in a common pool accessible to the entire authorized fleet. This prevents those potential catches from being "lost" at the end of the fiscal year and improves the utilization of fishing opportunities negotiated by Spain.

The available quantities by stock are as follows:

For the stocks of horse mackerel JAX/2A-14 and horse mackerel JAX/08C, specific rules are established regarding fishing zones and special conditions for access to the pool, which shipowners must verify before operating.

The General Secretariat of Fisheries reserves the right to set individual consumption limits based on the evolution of catches throughout the year. Vessels exceeding those limits must regularize their situation through temporary quota transfers. Surplus not consumed by December 31 will be managed in accordance with article 5.9 of Order APA/315/2020.

Economic and operational impact

For fishing companies, this common pool represents a direct opportunity to increase catches without needing to acquire additional quota on the market. Access is immediate from the publication date (October 10, 2026), leaving less than three months to take advantage of it before the end of the fiscal year.

The main vectors of economic impact are:

• Increased catches without quota cost: Authorized vessels can fish from the pool without prior economic transaction, as long as they comply with RD 502/2022 requirements.
• Risk of forced regularization: If the Secretariat sets limits and the vessel exceeds them, it must acquire temporary quota on the market, with the associated cost.
• Reduced time window: With less than 90 days until December 31, planning fishing trips and managing logistics are critical to take advantage of the available volume.
• High-value stocks: Hake (5.2M kg) and monkfish are high-price species at auction, which amplifies the positive economic impact for those accessing the pool.

Who does it affect?

• Shipowners and fishing companies with vessels authorized in the Cantabrian Sea
• Fleets from the Northwest (Galicia and adjacent areas)
• Fleets from the Gulf of Cádiz
• Vessels trawling in Portuguese waters
• Quota managers and advisors for fishing companies who must verify compliance with RD 502/2022 and Order APA/315/2020
• Fishing guilds and producer organizations that manage collective quotas

Practical example

A shipping company with a trawler operating in the Cantabrian Sea that has exhausted its individual hake quota can access the common pool and catch hake from the 5,200,000 kg available in that stock, without needing to buy quota on the secondary market.

However, if the General Secretariat of Fisheries sets a consumption limit per vessel—for example, because the pool is being consumed faster than expected—and that vessel exceeds the assigned limit, it must acquire temporary quota through transfer to regularize excess catches. The cost of that regularization will depend on the market price of hake quota at that time, which can be significant given the high demand for this species.

For the case of horse mackerel JAX/2A-14 and JAX/08C, the shipowner must also verify that it operates in the fishing zones specifically enabled for those stocks, as special conditions may restrict geographic access.

What should companies do now?

1. Verify vessel authorization: Confirm that the vessel meets the requirements of RD 502/2022 and Order APA/315/2020 to access the common pool. Without this prior verification, catches may not be regularizable.
2. Identify stocks of interest: Review which of the 10 available stocks are relevant for your fleet and in which zones you operate. Pay special attention to special conditions for horse mackerel JAX/2A-14 and JAX/08C.
3. Plan fishing trips before December 31: With less than 90 days of window, operational planning is urgent. Prioritize high-value species such as hake and monkfish.
4. Monitor consumption limits: Stay alert to possible resolutions from the General Secretariat of Fisheries that set individual consumption limits on the pool, to avoid excesses that require temporary quota transfers.
5. Prepare the regularization protocol: If there is risk of exceeding limits, identify temporary quota suppliers in advance to expedite the transfer and avoid penalties for unregularized catches.
6. Manage unconsumed surplus: On December 31, unconsumed surplus from the pool will be managed in accordance with article 5.9 of Order APA/315/2020. Knowing this procedure avoids surprises at the end of the fiscal year.

Official source

View complete regulation at 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-2026-21152