Purse Seine Fishing Quotas 2026: What Changes for Cantabrian and Northwest Vessels

Key data

Purse seine vessels operating in the Cantabrian and Northwest fishing grounds have been operating with modified quotas since April 8, 2026. The Resolution from the General Secretariat of Fisheries published on April 10, 2026 updates the individual fishing opportunities assigned to each authorized vessel and converts the mackerel stock quota (MAC/8C3411) to final, which until now had an initial character.

This modification is not a minor adjustment: it directly affects the maximum volume that each vessel can legally catch during the remainder of the 2026 campaign. Any vessel owner who has not reviewed their new individual allocation operates with outdated information and assumes the risk of non-compliance.

What does this regulation establish?

The resolution amends the previous regulation — the Resolution of February 6, 2026 — which had set the initial quotas for the campaign. The two main changes are:

• Update of individual fishing opportunities: The catch volumes assigned to each vessel authorized to operate in the Cantabrian and Northwest fishing grounds using the purse seine method are reviewed. Each vessel has its own individual allocation, which may have increased or decreased compared to the initial quota from February.
• Final quota for mackerel stock (MAC/8C3411): The mackerel stock changes from having an initial quota — subject to revision — to having a final quota for 2026. This closes the uncertainty about the legal catch ceiling for this species and allows vessel owners to plan the remainder of the campaign with legal certainty.

The EU Common Fisheries Policy allows and requires this type of adjustment during the year when updated scientific data or agreements between Member States justify it. Spain, through the General Secretariat of Fisheries, translates these decisions at the national level through resolutions such as this one.

Economic and operational impact

For vessel owners, the impact has two dimensions:

Economic dimension: The assigned quota directly determines the volume of marketable catches. A quota reduction implies fewer tons available for sale; an increase means greater operational margin. In the case of mackerel (MAC/8C3411), the establishment of the final quota closes the possibility of further upward revisions, which requires adjusting the fishing strategy for the remainder of the campaign.

Operational and compliance dimension: Operating above the assigned quota constitutes overfishing and can result in enforcement proceedings. Vessel owners must update their catch monitoring systems with the new individual limits to avoid involuntary non-compliance.

Who does it affect?

• Purse seine vessel owners authorized to operate in the Cantabrian and Northwest fishing grounds during the 2026 campaign.
• Skippers and captains of purse seine vessels responsible for extractive activity and catch control on board.
• Fishing companies and fishing associations that manage purse seine fleets in northern Spain (Galicia, Asturias, Cantabria, Basque Country).
• Advisors and administrative managers of fishing companies that process permits, quotas, and documentation with the General Secretariat of Fisheries.
• Buyers and traders of mackerel and other pelagic species from the Cantabrian region, whose available supply is conditioned by the new limits.

Practical example

A purse seine vessel owner based in Vigo had been assigned, from the Resolution of February 6, 2026, an initial mackerel quota (MAC/8C3411) for the 2026 campaign. As of April 8, that initial quota is replaced by the final quota set in the new resolution.

If the vessel has already caught part of its initial quota between February and April 7, it must verify that the volume already caught does not exceed its new individual final quota. If the final quota is lower than the initial one, the remaining margin is reduced. If it is higher, the vessel owner has greater catch capacity for the remainder of the campaign.

In any case, the vessel owner must request from the General Secretariat of Fisheries or consult the authorized registry what their new updated individual fishing opportunity is, since the limits are per vessel and are not published in aggregate form in the text of the resolution.

What should companies do now?

1. Consult the new individual quota assigned: Contact the General Secretariat of Fisheries or access the fishing opportunities registry to learn the updated limit for your vessel. Do not operate with data from the February resolution without verifying if they have changed.
2. Review accumulated catches since the start of the campaign: Compare the volume already caught between the start of the campaign and April 7 with your new final quota. If you are approaching the limit, adjust extractive activity immediately.
3. Update the fishing logbook and monitoring systems: Record the new limits in catch control systems on board and on shore to avoid involuntary non-compliance that could result in overfishing penalties.
4. Plan the remainder of the 2026 campaign with the final mackerel quota: Since it is now final, there will be no further upward revisions for the MAC/8C3411 stock. Adjust the fishing schedule and commercial agreements with buyers based on the remaining available volume.
5. Seek advice if you detect discrepancies: If the final quota assigned does not match your expectations or previous agreements, consult with an advisor specialized in fisheries regulations before continuing to fish.