level as the Moroccan one. Moroccan fishing effort has increased and became the
highest in the last 2 years. However, the CPUE was more or less stable for both
countries (Spain and Morocco) with an average of 51 and 36 kg/fishing trip,
respectively (Table 19.1).
19.3 Management Regulations
In Spain, the legislation applied to the management of the Blackspot Seabream
fishery has evolved from 1995 to 2016, in order to regulate the technical and
biological aspects associated with the fishery.
The regulations relating to the technical characteristics of fishing gear began with
the Order of June 17, 1998, which establishes the maximum length of the “voracera”
(120 m), the number of maximum hooks allowed (100 per “voracera”), and the size
of the hooks (length 3.55 Æ 0.35 cm and width 1.3 Æ 0.13 cm). These aspects have
been modified by different management plans until today (APA/3323/2002 Order of
December 20; APA/8/2006 Order of January 12; APA/274/2007 Order of February
7; APA/445/2008 Order of February 18; ARM/521/2009 Order of February 24;
ARM/3536/2009 Order of December 23). The AAA/1589/2012 Order of July
17 establishes that the number of maximum hooks allowed is 2400 and its dimension
not less than large 3.95 cm and width 1.65 cm. Nowadays this management plan
regulates the fishery.
As regards fishing effort (understood as days at sea), there has been an increase of
20 days from 1998–1999 (160 days) (Order of June 17, 1998; Order of November
2, 1999) to 2016 (180 days) (AAA/55/2016 Order of January 26). The opposite case
occurs with the census of vessels, which began with 148 (Order of June 17, 1998)
and currently has 88 (AAA/1589/2012 Order of June 17).
With regard to the temporary closure of the fishery (understood as the prohibition
of fishing in certain seasons), it is in 2002 when the obligation to stop the fishery
from mid-January to March included is incorporated (APA/3323/2002 Order of
December 20). After 2002 and until 2009, the months of temporary closure varied
but were always from January to May, coinciding with the months in which the
spawning takes place (APA/8/2006 Order of January 12; APA/274/2007 Order of
February 7; APA/445/2008 Order of February 18; ARM/3536/2009 Order of
December 23). In 2016, the obligation to carry out a temporary closure of the fishery
acquires voluntary character (AAA/55/2016 Order of January 26).
Finally, the biological aspect of the fishery has been regulated by the minimum
allowable catch length. The Blackspot Seabream is a marine resource whose life
cycle takes place under two different maritime domains (Atlantic and Mediterranean). Besides, it should be noted that the Strait of Gibraltar Blackspot Seabream
target fishery fishing grounds partially overlap areas from different regional fishery
organizations/advisory bodies, namely, GFCM (General Fisheries Commission for
the Mediterranean), CECAF (Fishery Committee for the Eastern Central Atlantic),
634
J. Gil-Herrera et al.
highest in the last 2 years. However, the CPUE was more or less stable for both
countries (Spain and Morocco) with an average of 51 and 36 kg/fishing trip,
respectively (Table 19.1).
19.3 Management Regulations
In Spain, the legislation applied to the management of the Blackspot Seabream
fishery has evolved from 1995 to 2016, in order to regulate the technical and
biological aspects associated with the fishery.
The regulations relating to the technical characteristics of fishing gear began with
the Order of June 17, 1998, which establishes the maximum length of the “voracera”
(120 m), the number of maximum hooks allowed (100 per “voracera”), and the size
of the hooks (length 3.55 Æ 0.35 cm and width 1.3 Æ 0.13 cm). These aspects have
been modified by different management plans until today (APA/3323/2002 Order of
December 20; APA/8/2006 Order of January 12; APA/274/2007 Order of February
7; APA/445/2008 Order of February 18; ARM/521/2009 Order of February 24;
ARM/3536/2009 Order of December 23). The AAA/1589/2012 Order of July
17 establishes that the number of maximum hooks allowed is 2400 and its dimension
not less than large 3.95 cm and width 1.65 cm. Nowadays this management plan
regulates the fishery.
As regards fishing effort (understood as days at sea), there has been an increase of
20 days from 1998–1999 (160 days) (Order of June 17, 1998; Order of November
2, 1999) to 2016 (180 days) (AAA/55/2016 Order of January 26). The opposite case
occurs with the census of vessels, which began with 148 (Order of June 17, 1998)
and currently has 88 (AAA/1589/2012 Order of June 17).
With regard to the temporary closure of the fishery (understood as the prohibition
of fishing in certain seasons), it is in 2002 when the obligation to stop the fishery
from mid-January to March included is incorporated (APA/3323/2002 Order of
December 20). After 2002 and until 2009, the months of temporary closure varied
but were always from January to May, coinciding with the months in which the
spawning takes place (APA/8/2006 Order of January 12; APA/274/2007 Order of
February 7; APA/445/2008 Order of February 18; ARM/3536/2009 Order of
December 23). In 2016, the obligation to carry out a temporary closure of the fishery
acquires voluntary character (AAA/55/2016 Order of January 26).
Finally, the biological aspect of the fishery has been regulated by the minimum
allowable catch length. The Blackspot Seabream is a marine resource whose life
cycle takes place under two different maritime domains (Atlantic and Mediterranean). Besides, it should be noted that the Strait of Gibraltar Blackspot Seabream
target fishery fishing grounds partially overlap areas from different regional fishery
organizations/advisory bodies, namely, GFCM (General Fisheries Commission for
the Mediterranean), CECAF (Fishery Committee for the Eastern Central Atlantic),
634
J. Gil-Herrera et al.