Scientific catch quotas 2026: 17 stocks modified for fishing vessels

Key data

Spanish fishing vessels participating in voluntary scientific campaigns in 2026 have a new distribution of catch quotas as of June 10. The Resolution of June 4, 2026 from the General Secretariat of Fisheries modifies the distribution approved on April 14, 2026, completing the allocation of pending kilograms after verifying the status of quota overages in certain stocks.

The modification is of immediate application and affects the entire 2026 campaign. There is no transition period: the changes are effective from the same day of publication in the BOE.

What does this regulation establish?

The April 2026 resolution established the annual distribution of the percentage of catches for scientific purposes within the framework of authorized scientific campaigns. However, stocks remained pending distribution, either because it was necessary to verify in advance whether any vessel had exceeded its quota, or for other administrative reasons.

The June 2026 resolution completes that distribution with the following key elements:

• 17 stocks incorporated into the distribution of scientific quotas for 2026.
• Assignment of specific kilograms to each vessel authorized for voluntary scientific campaigns.
• Exclusion of vessels with exceeded quotas in stocks ANF/8ABDE, HKE and SOL/8AB, in accordance with article 4.6 of Order APA/441/2023.
• Restriction on stock SBR/678: can only be caught as bycatch, with directed fishing to this stock prohibited.

The regulation being modified is the Resolution of April 14, 2026. The new resolution does not repeal it, but rather completes it by adding the stocks and allocations that were pending.

Economic and operational impact

For shipowners and skippers of fishing vessels participating in voluntary scientific campaigns, this resolution has direct and immediate operational consequences:

• Access to new quotas: Vessels that have not exceeded their quotas in the affected stocks now receive specific allocations in kilograms for 17 stocks. This expands the possibilities for legal catch within the framework of the 2026 scientific campaigns.
• Exclusion without immediate recourse: Vessels that have exceeded quotas in ANF/8ABDE, HKE or SOL/8AB are excluded from the distribution by mandate of article 4.6 of Order APA/441/2023. This exclusion is not discretionary: it is automatic once the overage is verified.
• Operational restriction on SBR/678: Vessels operating in areas where stock SBR/678 is found must ensure that any catch of this species is recorded as bycatch. Directed fishing to this stock is prohibited within the framework of the 2026 scientific campaigns.
• Immediate validity: There is no margin for adaptation. The resolution is applicable from June 10, 2026 for the entire campaign, which means that any fishing trip after that date must already comply with the new allocations.

Who does it affect?

• Spanish fishing vessels authorized to participate in voluntary scientific campaigns in 2026.
• Shipowners and skippers of vessels with allocations in the 17 incorporated stocks.
• Vessels with exceeded quotas in ANF/8ABDE, HKE or SOL/8AB: affected by automatic exclusion from the new distribution.
• Vessels operating in areas of stock SBR/678: affected by the restriction on fishing method.
• Fleet managers and compliance officers of fishing companies participating in scientific research programs.

Practical example

A Spanish fishing vessel authorized for voluntary scientific campaigns in 2026 regularly operates in areas where stocks HKE (hake) and ANF/8ABDE (monkfish) are found. During the first part of the campaign, the vessel has exceeded the assigned quota for both stocks.

When the General Secretariat of Fisheries verifies this situation and publishes the June 2026 resolution, that vessel is automatically excluded from the distribution of kilograms for HKE and ANF/8ABDE in the 17 incorporated stocks. It receives no additional allocation for these stocks, in accordance with article 4.6 of Order APA/441/2023.

If the same vessel also operates in areas where stock SBR/678 is located, it must ensure that any catch of this species is recorded as bycatch in the fishing log, never as the target species of the campaign. Otherwise, it would incur a violation of the conditions of the scientific authorization.

Conversely, a vessel that has not exceeded any quota in the verified stocks will receive the corresponding allocation of kilograms for the 17 incorporated stocks, and may continue its activity within the framework of the 2026 scientific campaign.

What should companies do now?

1. Verify the quota status of your vessel in stocks ANF/8ABDE, HKE and SOL/8AB. If there is an overage, the vessel is excluded from the new distribution and has no additional allocation for these stocks in 2026.
2. Check the kilogram allocation received for the 17 stocks incorporated in the resolution. Each authorized vessel has a specific allocation: it is essential to know it before the next fishing trip.
3. Update operational procedures for stock SBR/678: ensure that any catch of this species is recorded exclusively as bycatch in the fishing log and in reporting systems.
4. Review the scientific campaign authorization of the vessel to confirm that it remains valid and that the new allocations are correctly reflected.
5. If you believe the exclusion is incorrect, you have a period of one month from June 10, 2026 to file an appeal to the Minister. After that period, the resolution becomes final in administrative proceedings.

Official source

Consult 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-2026-12599