Key data
| Regulation | Resolution of March 13, 2026, from the General Secretariat of Fisheries |
|---|---|
| BOE Publication | March 17, 2026 |
| Entry into force | March 13, 2026 |
| Affected parties | Shipowners and fishermen with home port in the province of A Coruña who fish mackerel with fishing methods other than trawling and purse seining |
| Regulated species | Mackerel (Scomber scombrus) |
| Application zones | ICES zones 8c and 9a |
| Excluded fishing methods | Trawling and purse seining (not subject to this resolution) |
| Included fishing methods | Longline, hook and line, and other methods other than trawling and purse seining |
| Category | Agriculture and Fisheries |
| Campaign | 2026 Campaign |
Shipowners with home port in A Coruña who fish mackerel in the Cantabrian Sea and Atlantic waters off the Iberian Peninsula have new rules for the entire 2026 campaign. The Resolution of March 13, 2026 from the General Secretariat of Fisheries establishes additional management provisions for mackerel fishery (Scomber scombrus) in ICES zones 8c and 9a, directed exclusively at the fleet operating with fishing methods other than trawling and purse seining.
The regulation entered into force on the same day it was signed, March 13, 2026, although it was published in the BOE on March 17. This means the regulation is already enforceable and any fishing activity carried out from that date must comply with its conditions.
What does this regulation establish?
The resolution sets additional management provisions for mackerel fishery in ICES zones 8c and 9a. These provisions may include the following regulatory elements:
- Catch quotas: Extraction limits assigned to the affected fleet for the 2026 campaign.
- Closure periods: Time intervals during which mackerel fishing may be restricted or prohibited.
- Minimum sizes: Minimum legal size of specimens that can be caught and landed.
- Catch conditions: Specific operational requirements that must be met during fishing activity.
The regulatory framework responds to European management plans to ensure resource sustainability. The affected zones are:
| ICES Zone | Geographic area |
|---|---|
| 8c | Eastern Cantabrian Sea and Galicia waters |
| 9a | Atlantic waters off the Iberian Peninsula |
The regulation applies only to vessels with home port in the province of A Coruña that use fishing methods other than trawling and purse seining. Boats operating with trawling or purse seining in these same zones are not subject to this specific resolution.
Economic and operational impact
The direct impact of this regulation translates into operational restrictions for the affected fleet throughout the 2026 campaign. The main effects are:
- Catch limitation: The possible setting of quotas may reduce the maximum volume of mackerel that each vessel can land and market in 2026.
- Trip planning: Closure periods, if established, require reorganizing the schedule of fishing trips and anticipating activity planning.
- Size control: The application of minimum sizes implies greater rigor in catch selection on board and possible discards that reduce the economic yield of each trip.
- Risk of sanctions: Non-compliance with any of these conditions may result in administrative sanctions and, in the most serious cases, loss of fishing rights, which directly affects business viability.
The resolution does not specify concrete economic amounts for sanctions in the available information, but the loss of fishing rights represents a greater risk than any single economic fine for a shipowner whose activity depends on assigned licenses and quotas.
Who does it affect?
This resolution directly and immediately affects:
- Shipowners with vessels registered or with home port in the province of A Coruña.
- Fishermen and skippers operating in ICES zones 8c and 9a with fishing methods other than trawling and purse seining.
- Vessels using longline, hook and line or other fishing methods not included in trawling or purse seining.
- Fishing companies and fishing associations in A Coruña with activity on mackerel species (Scomber scombrus).
- Managers and administrators of fishing fleets who must update activity plans for the 2026 campaign.
This resolution does not affect boats operating with trawling or purse seining, nor fleets with home port outside the province of A Coruña, even if they may fish in the same ICES zones.
Practical example
A shipowner from A Coruña operating with bottom longline in ICES zone 8c and with an assigned mackerel quota for 2026 must, from March 13, adjust each trip to the conditions set by this resolution: respect the assigned quota, not catch specimens below the established minimum size, and avoid operating during closure periods if any.
If in one trip the shipowner lands mackerel above their quota or with sizes below those permitted, they are exposed to an administrative penalty proceeding. In the worst scenario, recidivism or the severity of the infraction may result in suspension or loss of fishing rights for this species, which would prevent them from operating on mackerel in zones 8c and 9a during the period determined by the penalty resolution.
To avoid this risk, the shipowner must verify before each trip the available quota balance and ensure that the crew knows the catch conditions in force for the 2026 campaign.
What should companies do now?
- Verify if your fleet is within the scope of application: Confirm that your vessels have home port in A Coruña and operate with fishing methods other than trawling and purse seining in ICES zones 8c or 9a. If so, this resolution applies to you from March 13, 2026.
- Consult the full text of the resolution in the BOE: Access the official resolution to learn the exact quotas, closure periods, minimum sizes, and specific catch conditions set for your fleet.
- Update the 2026 campaign activity plan: Review the planned trip schedule and adjust it to the closure periods and assigned quotas to avoid exceeding limits before the campaign ends.
- Inform skippers and crews: Ensure that all those responsible on board know the catch conditions in force, especially minimum sizes and landing limits.
- Establish real-time quota control: Implement a system to monitor quota consumption per vessel to detect in advance when the limit is approaching and avoid unintentional infractions.
- Consult with your fishing association or shipowners' association: Sector organizations usually receive additional communications from the General Secretariat of Fisheries with operational instructions supplementary to the published resolution.