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BOE-A-2026-6624 ·21 March 2026 ·Resolution Low impact
Immigration

Iberian sardine fleet: fishery to open on 23 March 2026 with reduction in total allowable catches

The General Secretariat for Fisheries has announced the start of the 2026 Iberian sardine season in ICES areas 8c and 9a, with the opening set for 23 March 2026. The total catch for the Spanish fleet is limited to 16,848,490 kg, representing a 2.79% reduction compared to the previous season. Management measures include daily vessel catch limits based on crew size and regulations to control consumption rates in the Cantabrian and North-West fishing grounds.

In 3 key points

  1. Total catches limited to 16,848,490 kg (a 2.79% reduction compared to 2025) (texto fuente)
  2. Opening of directed fishing for purse seine, racú, and piobardeira on 23 March 2026 (apartado tercero)
  3. Daily catch limits based on the number of crew members (Annexes I and II) (anexos I y II)

How it affects those involved

For purse seine, racú, and piobardeira vessels in the Cantabrian and North-West areas, the catch allocation is 9,419,958 kg, while the xeito method is allocated 423,106 kg. Shipowners must comply with the maximum daily catch limits detailed in Annexes I and II according to their crew numbers. Vessels that exceeded their quotas through temporary transmissions in 2025 must regularise their status during the current season.

Lifecycle

2026-03-21PublishedPublished in the BOE
2026-03-23Into forceComes into force (apartado tercero)
Official text Based on BOE data (boe.es). Information, not advice.

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This analysis is informational only and does not constitute legal advice or create a client-adviser relationship. BM Consulting.
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