Canary Islands Government opposes proposal for industrial Tuna farming
The Canary Islands Government has expressed strong concern over a national proposal to allow tuna fattening cages in the archipelago, warning that it could open the door to industrial purse seine fishing, a method using large circular nets to catch schools of fish, which is currently banned in the region.
Esteban Reyes, the regional Director General of Fisheries, said yesterday, Wednesday, that he was unaware of the plan before it was presented at the International Commission for the Conservation of Atlantic Tunas (ICCAT). He has since asked Spain’s Ministry of Agriculture and Fisheries for clarification on the details and intentions behind the proposal.
Reyes emphasised that the issue is not aquaculture itself, which has been established “successfully” in the Canary Islands for many years. The concern lies in the industrial purse seine technique, which captures large quantities of fish in a single operation and can unintentionally trap protected species, including dolphins.
“We fish tuna in a traditional way here, using rod and line,” Reyes reminded, noting that what has been suggested is still only an experimental plan with no approval or timeline in place.
The President of the Canary Islands, Fernando Clavijo, also addressed the matter during a visit to Lanzarote. He said the regional government is working to ensure the unique, small-scale nature of the Canarian fleet is respected, particularly regarding the valuable bluefin tuna quota.
The fishing sector across the Islands has already voiced a clear rejection of the Ministry’s initiative, which aims to authorise a pilot project for industrial purse seine fishing of bluefin tuna in Canary waters.
Clavijo stressed that the regional authorities “stand firmly with the fishermen”, and confirmed they have been in contact with the European Commissioner for Fisheries to defend the Islands’ interests.
“This sector has faced years of uncertainty,” he added, citing issues such as restrictions on the bluefin quota and the removal of POSEI fishing support, both of which have heavily impacted local livelihoods.
As discussions continue, both the government and the fisheries sector are united in their stance: industrial purse seine fishing has no place in the Canary Islands.
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