Spain’s Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries, and Food has announced an increase to the individual catch limits for the Mediterranean red shrimp fishery for 2025, adding a total of 45.9 tons to the quota for all authorised vessels.
The modification affects the 286 vessels included in the Mediterranean bottom trawling system that have a history of catching the species. The additional quota is sourced from two areas: 35.9 tons come from a quota swap with France, which the ministry said was achieved after "intensive negotiations", and 10 tons have been allocated from the national reserve fund.
According to the ministry, the quota increase will strengthen the Mediterranean bottom trawling sector, particularly during the summer and Christmas seasons, and will allow for better planning by shipowners.
The government has also enabled the pooling of catch limits to facilitate operational management and better utilisation of the available quantities by both individual vessels and fishing associations. The ministry stated that the new measures, "reaffirm its commitment to the responsible management of fishery resources."