Mackerel Fishing in A Coruña 2026: What Changes and What Shipowners Must Do

Key data

Fishing vessels with their port base in the province of A Coruña that operate with fishing methods other than trawling and purse seine have new mandatory compliance conditions for mackerel fishing in 2026. The Resolution of 17 April 2026 from the General Secretariat of Fisheries modifies the resolution of 13 March 2026, which established the additional provisions for the management of this fishery.

The modification affects the regulation of mackerel (Scomber scombrus) in ICES zones 8c and 9a, the Atlantic waters that comprise the Cantabrian Sea and the coasts of Galicia and Portugal. Any shipowner or skipper who does not adapt their activity to the new terms is exposed to direct operational and economic consequences.

What does this regulation establish?

This resolution is a second-level modification: it adjusts the terms of the resolution of 13 March 2026, which in turn established the additional provisions for the management of mackerel fishery in 2026. The purpose of the regulation is the sustainable management of fishing resources in Iberian Atlantic waters.

The aspects that this resolution may modify, according to the applicable fisheries management framework, include:

• Catch quotas assigned to the affected fleet
• Closed seasons or temporal restrictions on activity
• Minimum catch sizes for mackerel
• Specific operational conditions for fishing methods other than trawling and purse seine

The scope of application is precisely defined: it only affects vessels with port base in the province of A Coruña that use fishing methods other than trawling and purse seine. Vessels operating with trawling or purse seine are outside the scope of this resolution.

Economic and operational impact

The direct impact of this resolution translates into three areas for affected shipowners:

• Quotas and catch volume: If the modification adjusts the assigned quotas, the volume of mackerel that can be legally caught in 2026 changes. Exceeding the quota results in catch immobilization and sanctions.
• Trip planning: Changes in closed seasons or operational conditions require replanning fishing trips, with the economic cost this entails for the crew and shipowner.
• License risk: Repeated non-compliance may result in withdrawal of the fishing license, which means total paralysis of the vessel's activity.

This regulation is part of the sustainable management system for fishing resources in Iberian Atlantic waters, so adjustments respond to criteria for species conservation and quota distribution among fleets. Shipowners must understand that there is no room for maneuvering to operate outside the new limits: the consequences are immediate and direct on activity.

Who does it affect?

This resolution directly affects:

• Shipowners of fishing vessels with port base in the province of A Coruña
• Fishing skippers directing vessels in ICES zones 8c and 9a
• Crews of affected vessels
• Fishing companies and fishermen's associations in the province of A Coruña with mackerel activity
• Advisors and managers responsible for regulatory compliance of Galician fishing fleets

It does not affect vessels operating with trawling or purse seine, nor vessels with port base outside the province of A Coruña, even if they fish in the same zones.

Practical example

A shipowner with a longline vessel based in the port of A Coruña that regularly fishes in ICES zone 8c (Cantabrian Sea) for mackerel catch must, from 17 April 2026, operate under the new terms established in this resolution.

If the modification has adjusted the catch quota available for their fishing method and zone, the skipper must know the new limit before each trip. If they set out to fish without having reviewed the resolution and exceed the modified quota, they are exposed to immobilization of catches on board, an economic sanction and, in case of repeat offense, withdrawal of the fishing license.

The cost of not reviewing a document of just a few pages could be the paralysis of the vessel for weeks or months, with the economic impact this entails for the shipowner and crew.

What should shipowners do now?

1. Download and read the full text of the resolution published in the BOE on 21 April 2026 (reference BOE-A-2026-8782) to know exactly what conditions have changed compared to the resolution of 13 March 2026.
2. Identify the specific changes that affect your vessel: assigned quotas, permitted activity periods, minimum sizes or other modified operational conditions.
3. Inform the skipper and crew of the new limits and conditions before the next trip, especially if activity is conducted in ICES zones 8c or 9a.
4. Update records and documentation on board to reflect the new terms of the fishing authorization, so that in case of inspection compliance is demonstrated.
5. Consult with your advisor or fishermen's association if there are doubts about the interpretation of the new terms, especially regarding quotas and catch conditions.
6. Monitor possible new modifications, given that this resolution is already the second modification of mackerel management in 2026 and additional adjustments may occur throughout the year.