Shortfin mako shark quotas 2026: four new Spanish vessels in the Pacific

Key data

Four vessels from the Spanish longline fishing fleet are incorporated into the CITES quota regime for the capture and introduction of shortfin mako shark (Isurus oxyrinchus) in the Eastern Pacific during 2026. The Resolution of 21 October 2026 from the Directorate General for Biodiversity, Forests and Desertification amends the original resolution of 27 March 2026 to admit these new vessels, update identifying data and redistribute the available reserve.

The regulation is framed within Regulation (EC) 338/97, which regulates the protection of wild fauna and flora species through the control of their international trade (CITES). Without an assigned quota, vessels cannot legally introduce catches into Spanish territory or commercialize them.

What does this regulation establish?

The resolution amends the regulation of 27 March 2026 in three main aspects:

• Incorporation of four new vessels with individual quotas in the IATTC zone (Eastern Pacific).
• Update of identifying data: the vessel Carmen Tere is renamed Isla Baiona, with update of its associated memberships.
• Denial of the application of the vessel O Galaico due to lack of remaining quota in its zone of origin.

The quotas assigned to each new vessel are as follows:

The remainder of the 10% reserve will be distributed proportionally among the operational vessels in each zone until 31 December 2026.

Economic and operational impact

For the affected shipowners and producer organizations, the assignment of CITES quota is a sine qua non condition to be able to commercialize shortfin mako shark catches in Spain and the EU. Without quota, captured fish cannot be legally introduced from international waters.

The four incorporated vessels total 39,187 kg of authorized introduction capacity. For reference, the available reserve in the IATTC zone before these allocations was sufficient to absorb them, leaving still 80,013 kg of active reserve until year-end.

The name change of the vessel Carmen Tere to Isla Baiona has direct administrative implications: all export documentation, CITES certificates and producer organization records must reflect the new name to avoid customs rejections or introduction control issues.

The denial of the vessel O Galaico means that it will not be able to introduce mako catches from its zone of origin in 2026, which may result in loss of income or need to redirect activity to other species or zones with available quota.

Who does it affect?

• Shipowners and owners of the vessels Viking Bay, Celtic Bay, Nuevo Rumbo and Isla Baiona (formerly Carmen Tere): receive quota and can operate.
• Shipowner of vessel O Galaico: application denied; cannot introduce mako from its zone of origin in 2026.
• Producer organizations to which these vessels are affiliated: must update affiliations and documentation following the name change from Carmen Tere to Isla Baiona.
• Spanish longline fishing fleet operational in the IATTC zone: can request part of the remaining reserve (80,013 kg) proportionally until 31 December 2026.
• Importers and traders of shortfin mako shark in Spain working with these vessels: must verify that CITES certificates correspond to the new identifying data.

Practical example

The vessel Viking Bay receives the highest individual quota in this resolution: 11,675 kg. This means it can introduce from international waters of the Eastern Pacific up to that amount of shortfin mako shark during the 2026 exercise, supported by the corresponding CITES certificates.

If the Viking Bay has already made catches before this resolution and has them retained pending authorization, it can now process the introduction of up to 11,675 kg without needing additional quota. Any amount exceeding that limit would require a new allocation from the remaining reserve (80,013 kg available in the IATTC zone), provided there is remainder before 31 December 2026.

For its part, the vessel Isla Baiona (formerly Carmen Tere) must ensure that all its CITES certificates, cargo manifests and producer organization records already reflect the new name before any introduction operation, to avoid documentary discrepancies at customs.

What should companies do now?

1. Verify own quota allocation: Shipowners of the four incorporated vessels must confirm that their individual quotas (Viking Bay: 11,675 kg; Celtic Bay: 9,552 kg; Nuevo Rumbo: 10,369 kg; Isla Baiona: 7,591 kg) are correctly registered with the Directorate General for Biodiversity.
2. Update documentation for vessel Isla Baiona: All CITES certificates, producer organization records and customs documentation must reflect the new name (Isla Baiona instead of Carmen Tere) to avoid rejections in introduction controls.
3. Evaluate IATTC reserve remainder: Operational vessels in the IATTC zone that need additional quota can request part of the 80,013 kg of available reserve, proportionally, before 31 December 2026.
4. Manage the situation of vessel O Galaico: With its application denied, the shipowner must assess operational alternatives for the rest of 2026 (other species, other zones with available quota or wait for proportional distribution of the remainder if applicable).
5. Review associate memberships: Affected producer organizations must update their internal records to reflect the name change and new memberships resulting from this resolution.

Official source

Consult complete regulation in official source (BOE-A-2026-23087)

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-2026-23087