Spaniards back fishing quota reform: poll shows demand for fairness, transparency, small-scale access, and environmental protection
- Spaniards Overwhelmingly Back Quota Reform to Support Small-Scale Fishers
- Public demands fairer, transparent system as Spain prepares Royal Decree on fishing quota allocation
Spain is facing growing public pressure to overhaul its fishing quota system, as a new poll shows overwhelming support for shifting access away from industrial operators and towards small-scale fishers who contribute more to local jobs and do less harm to the ocean.
Commissioned by Oceana and conducted by YouGov, the poll finds that 87% of Spaniards want their government to allocate more fishing quotas to small-scale fishers. Over 78% want fewer quotas for large-scale, industrial vessels, and 83% are calling for greater transparency in how quotas are assigned.
The timing is critical. The Spanish government is preparing to launch a public consultation on a Royal Decree to revise fishing quota allocation, a requirement of the country’s Sustainable Fisheries Law. Environmental NGO Oceana sees this as a vital opportunity to replace the long-standing system which relies heavily on historical catch records—a method that disproportionately benefits large-scale fleets.
Javier Lopez, Oceana’s Campaign Director for Sustainable Fisheries in Europe, said:
“Spain’s upcoming Royal Decree is a crucial opportunity to transform its allocation system, making it more transparent, socially fair, and environmentally responsible.”
He argued for a progressive shift away from catch history as the dominant allocation criterion, urging the government to instead prioritise social and environmental factors—like job creation and the ecological impact of fishing methods.
The poll results also highlight strong public support for small-scale fisheries, which account for over 50% of Spain’s fleet and nearly one-third of employment in the sector. Despite this, they currently receive just around 3% of total fishing quotas. The public views this imbalance as unjust: 82% said protecting local jobs was important, 81% cited the need to minimise harm to the ocean, and 81% wanted more access to fresh, local seafood.
The poll also reveals deep opposition to destructive fishing practices: 76% of respondents said methods such as bottom trawling are incompatible with a healthy ocean.
Marta Cavallé, Executive Secretary of the Low Impact Fishers of Europe (LIFE), stated:
“Revising how quota is allocated… is not only a matter of ensuring fair access to resources for already vulnerable small-scale fishers, but also a crucial step for their survival.”
Cavallé called for a system that rewards lower-impact fishing and contributes to social well-being, warning that without it, small-scale fishers face further marginalisation.
The poll also uncovers a crisis of legitimacy in decision-making: 85% of Spaniards want small-scale fishers to play a greater role in quota decisions. Currently, those fishing from boats under 12 metres in coastal waters are sidelined in favour of larger industrial vessels operating offshore.
Oceana argues that the current quota allocation system breaches Spain’s obligations under the EU’s Common Fisheries Policy, which requires member states to consider environmental and social criteria in distributing fishing opportunities.
With the Royal Decree approaching, the Spanish government is now under pressure to either align quota reform with public expectations and legal commitments, or face accusations of entrenching a system that rewards scale over sustainability.
