Surface longline census 2026: which vessels can fish and what to verify

Key data

If you own a vessel that fishes with surface longline, your right to fish depends on your vessel being listed in the unified census. The General Secretariat of Fisheries has published the update of that census through the Resolution of 30 April 2026, effective from that same date. Not being included is equivalent to not being able to fish.

Surface longline is the fishing method directed at high-value species such as bluefin tuna, swordfish and porbeagle shark. These are highly migratory species subject to quotas and international agreements, which makes the census the central instrument for controlling access to this fishing method.

What does this regulation establish?

The resolution updates the unified census of vessels authorized for surface longline, which is the official register that determines which vessels can legally engage in this fishing method. This census operates as a closed list: only those within it can fish.

The regulatory basis governing this system is Order AAA/658/2014, of 22 April, which establishes the general framework for surface longline fishing directed at highly migratory species. This order was subsequently modified by Order APM/1057/2017, of 30 October, which introduced adjustments to its regulation.

The target species for regulated surface longline are:

• Bluefin tuna
• Swordfish
• Porbeagle shark

The scope of the census is not limited to Spanish waters. It also determines access to international fishing grounds under agreements of regional fisheries organizations, which significantly broadens its relevance for shipowners operating outside the Spanish exclusive economic zone.

Each census update may include:

• Additions: new vessels that acquire the right to fish with this method.
• Removals: vessels that lose authorization, either by administrative decision, change of ownership not updated or other causes.
• Modifications: changes in the registration data of vessels already included.

Economic and operational impact

The impact of this update is direct and binary: either you are in the census and can fish, or you are not and cannot. There is no middle ground or adaptation period once the resolution is published.

For affected shipowners, the operational consequences are immediate:

• A vessel removed from the census loses the right to engage in surface longline from the date of the resolution, 30 April 2026. Any subsequent fishing would be illegal.
• A vessel added to the census acquires the right from that same date, which may open new fishing campaigns for the shipowner.
• An incorrect registration modification may cause problems in inspections or in processing licenses for international fishing grounds.

Since bluefin tuna, swordfish and porbeagle shark are high-value commercial species, exclusion from the census has a direct and significant economic impact for any fishing company that depends on this method as a main or complementary activity.

Who does it affect?

• Shipowners of fishing vessels that operate or wish to operate with surface longline in Spanish waters.
• Vessel owners that fish in international waters under agreements of regional fisheries organizations and need to be authorized in the census to access those fishing grounds.
• Fishing companies with fleets directed at highly migratory species such as bluefin tuna, swordfish or porbeagle shark.
• Nautical advisors and managers who manage the documentation and authorizations of fishing fleets.
• Buyers and traders of these species who need to ensure the legal traceability of catches.

Practical example

A shipowner with a vessel dedicated to swordfish fishing in the Mediterranean operates under the authorization of the unified census. After the publication of the Resolution of 30 April 2026, he checks that his vessel appears as a modification in the census: the name of the owner has been updated due to a change in the company name of the owning entity.

If that modification does not correctly reflect the current data, the shipowner may encounter problems in a port inspection or when requesting access to an international fishing ground managed by a regional fisheries organization. The solution involves reviewing the registration data and, if there are discrepancies, contacting the General Secretariat of Fisheries to correct them before the next fishing season.

In the opposite case, a shipowner who discovers that his vessel has been removed without justified cause has the administrative means to challenge that decision, but in the meantime cannot legally fish with this method.

What should shipowners do now?

1. Consult the updated census: Access the Resolution of 30 April 2026 published in the BOE and verify that your vessel is correctly listed as active.
2. Review registration data: Check that the vessel name, owner, registration number and any other identifying data match exactly those in the census. An error in the data can cause problems in inspections or in international procedures.
3. Act if you detect an incorrect removal or modification: If your vessel appears as removed or with incorrect data, contact the General Secretariat of Fisheries to initiate the correction or claim procedure. Do not fish with this method until the situation is resolved.
4. Verify authorization for international fishing grounds: If you operate in international waters under agreements of regional fisheries organizations, confirm that your authorization in the census is valid for those specific fishing grounds, as access depends on being correctly registered.
5. Document the registration status: Keep a copy of the resolution and the current status of your vessel in the census. This documentation may be necessary for inspections, license renewals or catch commercialization procedures.