Mackerel fishing in Cantabria 2026: what changes for fleets with fishing methods other than trawling

Key data

Cantabrian vessels fishing mackerel with methods other than trawling and purse seining have new rules of the game as of 10 April 2026. The General Secretariat of Fisheries has modified the resolution of 13 February 2026 that regulated this fishery in ICES zones 8c and 9a, introducing changes that affect exclusively this fleet with home port in the province of Cantabria.

The official reference is the Resolution of 10 April 2026 (BOE-A-2026-8264), published on 14 April 2026 but with retroactive effects from the 10th of the same month. Any fishing activity on mackerel carried out from that date must comply with the new provisions.

What does this regulation establish?

This resolution modifies the management regulations for mackerel fishery (Scomber scombrus) approved on 13 February 2026. The changes are limited to a very specific fleet profile: vessels with home port in Cantabria that use fishing methods other than trawling and purse seining.

The affected zones are the following ICES divisions:

• Zone 8c: Atlantic waters of the eastern Bay of Biscay and northern Spanish coast.
• Zone 9a: Atlantic waters of the western coast of the Iberian Peninsula.

Based on available data, the modification may involve adjustments in one or more of the following operational aspects:

• Catch quotas assigned to this fleet.
• Closed seasons or temporal restrictions on activity.
• Minimum catch sizes for the species.
• Specific operational conditions for the fishing methods used.

The regulation is part of the annual management of fishing resources in Spanish Atlantic waters, a process that is reviewed and adjusted periodically based on stock status and fishing management commitments.

Economic and operational impact

Mackerel is a high-value commercial species in the Bay of Biscay fishing sector. Any modification in the conditions for its capture has direct consequences on campaign planning, vessel profitability and regulatory compliance.

Possible operational impacts for affected shipowners include:

• Quota adjustment: If the modification reduces or redistributes available quotas, shipowners must recalculate their catch planning for the 2026 campaign.
• Changes in activity periods: Modifications in closed seasons or fishing windows may require reorganizing fishing trips and port logistics.
• Adaptation of fishing methods: If new conditions are introduced on permitted fishing methods, it may be necessary to review onboard equipment.
• Risk of infraction: Operating outside the new conditions exposes the shipowner to administrative penalties in fisheries matters.

Given that the regulation entered into force on 10 April 2026 but was published on 14 April, there is a four-day period during which shipowners could have operated without knowledge of the changes. It is advisable to review catches made during that interval to verify their compliance with the new provisions.

Who does it affect?

This resolution affects exclusively the following profiles:

• Shipowners with vessels registered or with home port in the province of Cantabria.
• Skippers and crew members of vessels operating with fishing methods other than trawling and purse seining (longline, hook and line, traps, gillnets, etc.).
• Fishermen's associations and producer organizations in Cantabria that manage quotas or coordinate the activity of this fleet.
• Advisors and managers who provide administrative or compliance support to Cantabrian fishing companies.

Trawling vessels and purse seine vessels are expressly excluded from the scope of this modification, which has its own differentiated regulation.

Practical example

A shipowner based in Santander operating with surface longline in ICES zone 8c for mackerel capture must, as of 10 April 2026, verify whether their assigned quota, minimum required sizes or periods in which they can fish have changed compared to what was established in the resolution of 13 February 2026.

If, for example, the modification has reduced the available quota or advanced the season closure, and the shipowner continues fishing under the previous parameters without having consulted the new resolution, they would be committing an infraction of fisheries management regulations. Immediate review of the text published in the BOE (BOE-A-2026-8264) is the first step to avoid this situation.

What should shipowners do now?

1. Download and read the full text of the Resolution of 10 April 2026 (BOE-A-2026-8264) to identify exactly what conditions have changed compared to the resolution of 13 February 2026.
2. Compare the new provisions with the previous ones regarding quotas, closed seasons, minimum sizes and operational conditions to detect changes that affect your specific activity.
3. Review catches made between 10 and 14 April 2026 to verify that they comply with the new conditions, given that the regulation entered into force before its publication.
4. Inform the crew and skipper of the operational changes that apply immediately in the next fishing trips.
5. Contact the fishermen's association or producer organization to confirm whether there are additional instructions on the management of collective quotas or distribution agreements affected by the modification.
6. Consult a specialist advisor in fisheries regulations if there are doubts about the scope of the changes or about possible infractions already committed.