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Angled fishing
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The Basque Government cancels the angula fishing campaign 2025-2026 due to the "critical" state of the species

The decision is based on a number of reports warning that the measures implemented so far have failed to restore the critical state of the species. The Department stresses the need to strengthen measures for the recovery of the species before the situation becomes irreversible.

Pesca de angulas
Fishing boat. Photo: Open.
The Departmentof Food, Rural Development, Agriculture and Fisheries of theBasque Government met this Friday with representatives of the Basque Angulero Association to report on the decision to temporarily suspend angled fishing on the basis of the latest scientific reports.



As reported by the Government, the decision was taken on the basis of two reports and the resolution of various institutions. 

On the one hand, there are the conclusions of the final post-evaluation report of the Angula Management Plansubmitted by the SpanishState to the European Commission last spring.



In particular, the report points out that the targets for escape and recruitment of the angle are still far from the target laid down in the Council of Europe Regulation of 2007, and the number of angles in rivers is only 7% of those in the 1960s and 1970s.

To date, a number of measures have been implemented to deal with the situation, such as limiting fishing activity or improving habitat quality and river connectivity, but, according to the report, these measures have failed to reverse the serious situation of the species and therefore stocks remain outside safe biological limits.

On the other hand, the Ombudsmanissued a resolution on 4 June recommending the regulation of fishing adapted to the measures for the recovery of the angled population. The Ararteko stressed that these regulatory measures must be based on technical and scientific opinions and adapted to the framework of the Angle Management Plan of the Autonomous Community of the Basque Country (CAPV).

The results of the AZTI reportgo in the same direction. The report will be presented at the meeting of the Angle Committee of the International Council for the Exploration of the Sea, which advises the European Commission, and stresses that there is no indication that the species is recovering.

Well, in view of all these conclusions, the Department of Food, Rural Development, Agriculture and Fisheries of the Basque Government is committed to suspending the angled fishing campaign 2025-2026.

As soon as the report of the International Council for the Exploration of the Sea is received, a working table will be set up in November to renew the Angle Management Plan for 2010. The Deputies of Gipuzkoa and Bizkaia, as well as the scientists of AZTI and UPV, the Angulero Association of the Basque Country and a representative of environmental groups, will participate in the working table for the improvement of the conservation status of the species and the adoption of new measures for the recovery of fishing.

The Department of Food, Rural Development, Agriculture and Fisheries of the Basque Government will continue to work to recover the species and promote the sustainable development of it and its environment. In the last campaign 2024-2025, a total of 198.44 kilograms of this species were captured, according to statements by authorised fishermen.

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