Red tuna quota 2026: 7,938 tonnes and new rules for the fishing sector

Key data

Spanish tuna fleets have 1,155 additional tonnes of red tuna quota in 2026 compared to the previous year. The Resolution of 28 May 2026 from the General Secretariat of Fisheries sets the national quota at 7,938.81 tonnes and incorporates the recommendations of the International Commission for the Conservation of Atlantic Tunas (ICCAT) 24-05, 25-04 and 25-01, including a pilot breeding project in the Canary Islands. The regulation entered into force on the same day of its publication in the BOE, 9 June 2026.

What does this regulation establish?

The resolution regulates for 2026 all operational aspects of red tuna fishing in the eastern Atlantic and the Mediterranean. The main points are:

Quota distribution by fleets

The 7,938.81 tonnes of national quota are distributed among the following fishing methods:

Of the total increase of 1,155 tonnes compared to 2025, 183.42 tonnes are reserved and the remainder is distributed directly among the fleets according to the criteria established in the resolution.

ICCAT recommendations incorporated

• Recommendation 24-05: Multi-year management measures for red tuna in the eastern Atlantic and the Mediterranean.
• Recommendation 25-04: Complementary management provisions for 2026.
• Recommendation 25-01: Includes the pilot breeding project for red tuna in the Canary Islands.

Quota transfers

The regulation governs both temporary and permanent quota transfers between operators. In both cases, a declaration of responsibility regarding the shareholding composition of the transferring and receiving company must be submitted. This requirement is new and seeks to ensure traceability of quota ownership.

Special permits

Special permits required to operate must be requested with a minimum of 15 days' notice through the electronic office of the Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food (MAPA). Applications are not accepted through other channels or outside the deadline.

Economic and operational impact

The quota increase of +1,155 tonnes represents a direct opportunity for greater catch volume and, therefore, income for the benefiting fleets. However, the regulation also introduces new administrative burdens that affect daily operations:

• Greater available quota: Fleets receiving part of the increase will be able to increase their catches compared to 2025, resulting in greater potential revenue.
• Pilot project in the Canary Islands: The incorporation of ICCAT Recommendation 25-01 opens a new avenue of activity for Canary Islands operators interested in red tuna breeding, a high value-added segment.
• Declaration of shareholding composition: Companies transferring quota — temporarily or permanently — must prepare and submit documentation certifying their corporate structure. This may require the intervention of legal or notarial advisors.
• Permit management with advance notice: The 15-day deadline requires planning fishing campaigns with more margin. A late application may prevent operation on key dates of the season.

Who does it affect?

• Shipowners of live bait vessels operating in the Cantabrian Sea.
• Purse seine fleets with activity in the Mediterranean.
• Fish trap companies and concessionaires on Atlantic and Mediterranean coasts.
• Longline shipowners in the eastern Atlantic and the Mediterranean.
• Small-scale fishing vessels with assigned red tuna quota.
• Fishing associations managing collective quotas.
• Aquaculture companies in the Canary Islands interested in the red tuna breeding pilot project.
• Operators transferring quota (buyers and sellers of temporary or permanent quota).

Practical example

A Mediterranean purse seine shipowner company that exhausted its assigned quota in 2025 and was left out of the season early can benefit from the 2026 increase. If part of the 1,155 additional tonnes (minus the 183.42 reserved, leaving 971.58 tonnes available for distribution) is allocated to its fleet, it will have more campaign days or greater volume per trip.

Furthermore, if this company wants to temporarily transfer part of its quota to another shipowner, it must submit to MAPA a declaration of responsibility with its updated shareholding composition. If it does not have that documentation prepared, the transfer can be blocked and the receiving shipowner will not be able to operate with that quota in the season.

Finally, if it needs a special permit for a campaign starting on 1 July, the application must be registered in MAPA's electronic office by 16 June at the latest. Submitting it on 17 June means not being able to operate on that date.

What should companies do now?

1. Verify the quota assigned to your fleet in the resolution and compare it with 2025 to identify if you have received part of the 1,155 tonne increase.
2. Plan fishing campaigns with at least 15 days' notice to request special permits through MAPA's electronic office before the deadline expires.
3. Prepare shareholding composition documentation if you plan to transfer quota (temporarily or permanently) during 2026. Coordinate with your legal advisor or notary.
4. Evaluate the breeding pilot project in the Canary Islands if you operate in the archipelago or have interest in the red tuna aquaculture segment (ICCAT Recommendation 25-01).
5. Review ICCAT recommendations 24-05, 25-04 and 25-01 incorporated into the regulation to ensure your operations comply with the new technical and conservation requirements.
6. Consult your fishing association or industry association to learn about the specific quota distribution within your fishing method and the distribution criteria applied.

Official source

View complete regulation in 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-2026-12503